NGC 4567 / Butterfly Galaxies

NameButteryfly Galaxies, Siamese Twin Galaxies
Designation(s)NGC 4567, NGC 4568
Object Type(s)Galaxy
Relevant Catalog(s)All (Chron), NGC
Obs. Lat/Long42° 17', 073° 57'
ConstellationVirgo
Date and Time Observed2024-05-25 00:05:00
InstrumentEdgeHD 8" f10-2,032mm FL
CameraASI294MC-Pro
Image DetailsUp is 90.8 degrees E of N. Total integration time was 46m 30s. Exposures 30s@305g, UV/IR Cut Filter. Darks subtracted, no flats. Dithered and recentered in SharpCap. No guiding.
DescriptionThis has got to be one of the best galaxy mergers in the night sky. It shows two, near-peer spiral galaxies that are close enough to show a great deal of structure. Perhaps what the Milky Way and Andromeda will look like in about a billion years. A favorite. I'm surprised it's not an Arp... An OK night, but I was fighting a near full, waning moon that was rising over most of this observation, cutting surface contrast.
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