Object of the Week, November 24th, 2019 - Arp 331 – Galaxy Chain in Pisces

[FaintFuzzies]

Object of the Week Nov 24, 2019 – Arp 331 – Chain of Galaxies in Pisces
Coordinates for the middle galaxy of the chain:
NGC 383 RA: 01 07 25 Dec: +32 24 45 Mag 13.4v

I think this is a pretty cool chain of 8 NGC galaxies spanning a north-south length of less than 20’. The member galaxies range from mag 12.9v to 15.5v, so a 10 inch under dark skies should be able to see all, but one. A 16” should catch the last one, NGC 387.

I enjoy looking at galaxy chains and this is a great example of a fairly bright chain and well placed in the late fall sky.
Listing from north to south. (copied from my Arp book)

NGC 379 (mag 12.8v) – bright, 2:1 elongated patch with diffuse edges. Brighter slightly elongated nucleus. PA = 0 and 1.2’ long.
NGC 380 (13.6b) – bright, round, much brighter center. 1’ in diameter.
NGC 383 (13.4v) – very bright, round, brighter center. Diffuse edges and 1’ across.
NGC 382 (14.2p) – bright small round even surface brightness patch. About 30” across. This is almost merged with NGC 383 on the NE edge.
NGC 387 (15.5) – considerably faint, small round, stellar nucleus. 10” across
NGC 386 (14.3v) – bright small round, nearly stellar nucleus. 15” across.
NGC 385 (12.9v) – bright round patch with a brighter center with a nearly stellar nucleus. 30” across.
NGC 388 (14.3v) – very faint, small round even surface brightness patch. 15” across
NGC 384 (13.1v)– bright small round much brighter center to a nearly stellar nucleus. 30” across
Observed with my 22” @ 184, 255, 305 and 458x under NELM 6.5 skies.


3716
Arp 331 with the Sloan Digital Sky Survey


3718
Labeled inverted DSS image


3717
Eyepiece rendition with my 22” at 255x. Field: 19.3’




So Give it a go and Let us know!

[Clear Skies]

One observation for the galaxies that make up Arp 331, along with nearby NGC388. Rated it 4/10.

4 November 2018, French Ardennes, SQM 21.10, 14" SCT @ 168x/29'

Using this magnification all eight galaxies that make up Arp 331 (+ NGC388) share the FoV.

Without AV NGC379 is a slightly north-south elongated glow, more elongated using AV and quite suddenly brighter in a central part that is elongated in the same direction. Using AV the nucleus is visible.

SSE of NGC379 (almost due south) is NGC380, a round glow, just a bit brighter than NGC379, the nucleus (brighter than that of NGC379) is just visible without AV.

NGC383 is a north-south elongated, oval glow, quite suddenly brighter in a round central part with quite a bright nucleus that is visible without AV.

To the SSW of NGC383 is a small, faint, round patch (NGC382), even in brightness, using AV the nucleus is visible that is fainter than the nucleus of NGC383.

To the SE of NGC382 & NGC383 is NGC387, a small, extremely faint, round glow, even in brightness, only visible with use of AV and on the limit of visibility.

To the SSW of NGC387 (SSE of NGC382 & NGC383) is NGC386, just a bit brighter than NGC387, a faint, slightly north-south elongated glow, even in brightness, difficult to observe without AV. Using AV the extremely faint nucleus is just visible.

To the SSW of NGC386 are NGC385 (NE) and NGC384 (SSW), aligned NNE to SSW.
NGC385 is a round glow, gradually brighter in the middle. Using AV the nucleus is faintly visible.

NGC384 is round when not using AV, using AV a NW-SE elongated, oval patch, gradually brighter in the middle with a moderately bright nucleus that visible without AV.

To the east of NGC384 & NGC385 is a small, faint, slightly NW-SE elongated little patch, even in brightness, smaller and fainter than NGC385 and NGC384. Using AV the nucleus is visible (= galaxy NGC388).


Here is the observing guide for Arp 331 in the upcoming CSOG 2.3 edition (https://www.dropbox.com/s/s81qxucd8obca77/Arp%20331%20%5BPsc%5D.pdf?dl=1) (PDF, 18MB).

[Raul Leon]

Hi,
Here's my observation from 11/4/2013: Arp 331 : 7 of the 8 galaxies, I could not see ngc 387. I used a 10mm Ethos at 158x magnification with my 14.5 Starstructure Dob f/4.33719

[Uwe Glahn]

I could have sworn that the Pisces Chain was already OOTW. I was wrong, nice object Alvin and for sure one of the most beautiful chains for mid size apertures.
No description this time but an old sketch with my former 16-inch.

16", 189x, NELM 6m5+
3720

[obrazell]

Your memory did not deceive you Uwe as Alvin himself had this chain as an OOTW in 2013 under the NGC 383 moniker.

Owen

[Ivan Maly]

I have this short note from five years ago: "8 members of the chain are framed by the Ethos. Spectacular! 20", 200x, SQM 21.1."

[FaintFuzzies]

Ouch! Sorry about that. I searched the forums to make sure that this wasn't used. Even checked 383 and it didn't pull it up. At the same time, I thought I did it, but when I didn't find it, I said what the heck, I'll just do it.