Antilhue - Chile

FCSS J033728.8-352708 in Fornax
Home Clusters Galaxies Nebulae Solar System Bennett Catalogue Published images

 

 

Image Data

Designation FCSS J033728.8-352708
Object type LBCG, Luminous Blue Compact Galaxy
Coordinates 03 h 37 min  29 s    - 35° 27' 08"
Constellation Fornax (For)
Description

FCSS J033728.8-352708 is a peculiar object, measuring only 15 x 8 arcseconds, near the center of this galaxy field in Fornax.  FCSS stands for Fornax Cluster Spectroscopic Survey.  However, with a redshift of 0.08, it is not a member of the Fornax galaxy group.  Its estimated distance is around one billion lightyears !  Unlike other faint background galaxies this object displays an irregular shape and emits very strongly in blue light.  It is most probably a Luminous Blue Compact type galaxy (LBCG).  These are dwarf galaxies with very high star creation activity, that emit strongly in the ultraviolet, violet and blue.    Thanks to Mischa Schirmer for supplying the background data on this surprising little object.

The field of view is about 9.4 arcminutes wide with north towards the 2 o'clock position.

Exposure NRGB 90:30:30:30 min @ -25°C, no filter on luminance, RGB binned 2x2
Camera SBIG STL-11000 selfguided  with Astronomik Type II RGB filter set.
Optics RCOS 14.5" Ritchey-Chrétien  at f/9
Mount Astro-Physics AP1200GTO
Software MaxIm DL/CCD, Sigma Pre Beta 11,  Pixinsight V.1, Adobe Photoshop CS
Location - Date - Time San Esteban (Chile) - 02Nov 2005 @ 06:00 UTC
Conditions Transparency 7/10,  Seeing 7-8/10, Temperature + 10°C