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 Galaxy Group NGC 3718, NGC 3729 and HG 56A 




NGC 3718 Core
NGC 3729
HG 56A
Ring on NGC3718 ?? (RGB)

About:
A careful look at the full field of view for this image reveals a surprising number of galaxies both near and far toward the constellation Ursa Major. The most striking is clearly NGC 3718, the warped spiral galaxy on the center. NGC 3718's faint spiral arms look twisted and extended, its bright central region crossed by obscuring dust lanes. A mere 150 thousand light-years to the right is another large spiral galaxy, NGC 3729. The two are likely interacting gravitationally, accounting for the peculiar appearance of NGC 3718. While this galaxy pair lies about 52 million light-years away, the remarkable Hickson Group 56 can also be seen clustered just above NGC 3718. Hickson Group 56 consists of five interacting galaxies and lies over 400 million light-years away. [Text from APOD]

Pubblications "Nuovo Orione" Year 2013 Calendar
Optics: GSO RC 10" F8 2000mm - Astrograph Ritchie-Chrétien
Mount: AP Mach1 GTO on Gemini Q-Lock tripod
Camera: ATIK 4000LE with SX USB Filter Wheel
Filters: Baader LRGB 2"
Guiding Systems: SXV-AO-LF Active Optics - SX Lodestar
Dates/Times: 24/26/28 Macrh 2012
Location: Pragelato - Turin - Italy
Exposure Details: L:R:G:B => 450:72:72:72 = > (30x15):(6x12):(6x12):(6x12) Color Bin2 [num x minutes]
Cooling Details: -20 °C
Acquisition: Maxim DL/CCD, Perseus
Processing: CCDStack2+, Registax 6, PS CS5
Mean FWHM: 2.28" / 2.96 "
SQM-L: 20.72 / 21.04