| Object Data |
| Description |
This edge-on disk galaxy's most noticeable feature is
its complete lack of any dark or obscuring dust lanes. Also notable is the
relatively large central bulge. This apparent shape has given it the
nickname of the "Spindle Galaxy". Through a small telescope, it looks more
like a simple oval lump of light rather than a spindle. Although it is
currently classified as a Lenticular Spiral (S0), if the disk was not
perfectly edge on to us, it would likely be classified as an elliptical.
|
| Constellation |
Sextans the Sextant |
| Right Ascension |
10h 5m 24s |
| Declination |
-7° 44' 4" |
| Magnitude |
10.1 |
| Angular size |
7.3 arcminutes |
| Distance |
6.7 megaparsecs (22 million light years) |
| Radial Velocity |
658 kilometers per second |
| Image Data |
| Photographer |
Fred Lehman |
| Main Scope |
Meade 12" LX200 @ f/5.0 (1525mm) |
| Guide Scope |
Orion 120mm refractor @ f/3.75 |
| Guide Camera |
SBIG STV |
| Imaging Camera |
Starlight Xpress MX7C |
| Resolution |
752 x 580 @ 1.2 arcseconds per pixel |
| Exposure |
Ten exposures of two minutes each. Aligned, stacked,
and processed with AstroArt. |
| Date |
March 24, 2003 |
| Location |
Area 51 in Big Cypress National Preserve in central
South Florida. |
