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Image Data
Designation |
NGC 4945, Bennett 57 |
Object type |
Spiral galaxy |
Coordinates |
13h05m - 49°28' |
Constellation |
Centaurus (Cen) |
Description |
For such a close galaxy, NGC 4945
is easy to miss. NGC 4945 is a spiral galaxy in the Centaurus
Group of galaxies, located only six times farther away than the prominent
Andromeda Galaxy. The thin disk galaxy is oriented nearly edge-on,
however, and shrouded in dark dust. The yellowish/red
appearance is caused by about 1 mag of interstellar absorption due to its
low galactic latitude. Together with NGC 5128
(Centaurus A) and M 83, it
forms part of a small group of galaxies 13 million lightyears away.
Here is a wide field view
taken with a 6" (155mm) refractor telescope.
|
Exposure |
LRGB 120:60:60:60 min @ -15°C,
RGB binned 2x2 |
Camera |
SBIG ST-10XE selfguided + CFW8
with Astrodon Tru-Balance LRGB filter set. |
Optics |
RCOS 14.5" Ritchey-Chrétien
with AP 0.67X reducer working at f/6.56 |
Mount |
Astro-Physics AP1200GTO |
Software |
MaxIm DL/CCD, DeBloomer, Sigma Pre Beta 11,
Adobe
Photoshop CS |
Location - Date - Time |
San Esteban (Chile) - 19Mar04 @ 08:00
UTC |
Conditions |
Transparency 5, Seeing 6, Temperature
+14°C |
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