Clear Skies
April 3rd, 2022, 10:45 AM
Spring is here. Galaxies galore. For this week's OOTW I decided to go with an obscure group in Ursa Major. Some aperture required.
UGC7064A lives in the north-northeastern regions of the Great Bear. Brightest galaxy in the vicinity is NGC3945 (https://archive.stsci.edu/cgi-bin/dss_search?v=poss2ukstu_blue&r=11+53+13.73&d=%2B60+40+32.0&e=J2000&h=30.0&w=30.0&f=gif&c=none&fov=NONE&v3=), 1.4 degrees to the east.
But if it carries the designation UGC7064A, there sure must be a UGC7064 without the A..? There is, but it's 29 degrees to the south-southwest, also in Ursa Major and better known as the group Holmberg 232 (https://archive.stsci.edu/cgi-bin/dss_search?v=poss2ukstu_blue&r=12+04+45.30&d=%2B31+10+30.9&e=J2000&h=30&w=30&f=gif&c=none&fov=NONE&v3=) / Rose 8 / KTG 41.
Here is our object of the week, @ 12:04:44 +60d40m20s. Both images are only 5 minutes of arc in size:
4648 4649
In NED it is listed as a galaxy triple (http://ned.ipac.caltech.edu/cgi-bin/objsearch?objname=UGC7064A&extend=no&hconst=73&omegam=0.27&omegav=0.73&corr_z=1&out_csys=Equatorial&out_equinox=J2000.0&obj_sort=RA+or+Longitude&of=pre_text&zv_breaker=30000.0&list_limit=5&img_stamp=YES) with a population count (http://ned.ipac.caltech.edu/cgi-bin/objsearch?objname=UGC7064A&extend=no&hconst=73&omegam=0.27&omegav=0.73&corr_z=1&out_csys=Equatorial&out_equinox=J2000.0&obj_sort=RA+or+Longitude&of=pre_text&zv_breaker=30000.0&list_limit=5&img_stamp=YES#BasicData_0) of 4 (...). It's a bit of a confusing mess when it comes to designations. Let's break it down.
Starting in the west, we see a bright little fellow. NED designates it UGC7064A NED01 (http://ned.ipac.caltech.edu/cgi-bin/objsearch?objname=UGC+07064A+NED01&extend=no&hconst=73&omegam=0.27&omegav=0.73&corr_z=1&out_csys=Equatorial&out_equinox=J2000.0&obj_sort=RA+or+Longitude&of=pre_text&zv_breaker=30000.0&list_limit=5&img_stamp=YES). But it's a star, as confirmed by SDSS (http://skyserver.sdss.org/dr16/en/tools/explore/Summary.aspx?id=1237658312940257465), known as 4UCAC754-046749 (a.k.a. SDSS J120441.17+604019.3).
West of center is the brightest galaxy of the bunch: PGC38217 (http://skyserver.sdss.org/dr16/en/tools/explore/Summary.aspx?id=1237658312940257466), UGC7064A NED02 (http://ned.ipac.caltech.edu/cgi-bin/objsearch?objname=UGC7064A+NED02&extend=no&hconst=73&omegam=0.27&omegav=0.73&corr_z=1&out_csys=Equatorial&out_equinox=J2000.0&obj_sort=RA+or+Longitude&of=pre_text&zv_breaker=30000.0&list_limit=5&img_stamp=YES). SIMBAD says this is both UGC7064A & B (http://simbad.u-strasbg.fr/simbad/sim-id?Ident=UGC7064A&NbIdent=1&Radius=2&Radius.unit=arcmin&submit=submit+id), where NED does not list anything other than -A, but only for the group as a whole. Its nucleus is a tad fainter than the star to its west appears to be.
Directly north-northeast is an extremely faint one: SDSS J120443.44+604027.3 (http://skyserver.sdss.org/dr16/en/tools/explore/Summary.aspx?id=1237658312940257470), (.2 in NED (http://ned.ipac.caltech.edu/cgi-bin/objsearch?objname=SDSS+J120443.44%2B604027.2&extend=no&hconst=73&omegam=0.27&omegav=0.73&corr_z=1&out_csys=Equatorial&out_equinox=J2000.0&obj_sort=RA+or+Longitude&of=pre_text&zv_breaker=30000.0&list_limit=5&img_stamp=YES), but that may be a typo).
To the east of PGC38217 is PGC200281 (http://skyserver.sdss.org/dr16/en/tools/explore/Summary.aspx?id=1237658312940257467), UGC7064A NED03 (http://ned.ipac.caltech.edu/cgi-bin/objsearch?objname=UGC7064A+NED03&extend=no&hconst=73&omegam=0.27&omegav=0.73&corr_z=1&out_csys=Equatorial&out_equinox=J2000.0&obj_sort=RA+or+Longitude&of=pre_text&zv_breaker=30000.0&list_limit=5&img_stamp=YES). Like its sibling to the west it is very small and faint, but it does sport a prominent dark lane along with a nucleus. SIMBAD says it's UGC7064C (http://simbad.u-strasbg.fr/simbad/sim-id?Ident=UGC7064C&NbIdent=1&Radius=2&Radius.unit=arcmin&submit=submit+id).
I think it's clear to conclude that the two PGC galaxies are interacting. The long east-northeast to west-southwest extending lane, that appears to be passing through both galaxies, is evident.
The easternmost galaxy is SDSS J120448.91+604019.6 (http://skyserver.sdss.org/dr16/en/tools/explore/Summary.aspx?id=1237658312940257468). It too reveals a nucleus. Its redshift indicates it is in the distant background and not a physical member of this group.
There's little to none information about this group on the web. This image on Flickr is a beauty, though: https://www.flickr.com/photos/geckzilla/48267298226
As the image reveals, SDSS J120441.17+604019.3 is indeed as star. To its west, on the western edge of the extending lane, is yet another faint galaxy. It may be SDSS J120439.72+604016.1, although classified as a star in SDSS.
As always, I have pieced together an observing guide for this OOTW. Click here (https://clearskies.eu/csog/downloads/dsfootw2022/#14) to download it.
4650 4651 4652
Well... you know what to do! Use Jimi's scope, and let us know.
UGC7064A lives in the north-northeastern regions of the Great Bear. Brightest galaxy in the vicinity is NGC3945 (https://archive.stsci.edu/cgi-bin/dss_search?v=poss2ukstu_blue&r=11+53+13.73&d=%2B60+40+32.0&e=J2000&h=30.0&w=30.0&f=gif&c=none&fov=NONE&v3=), 1.4 degrees to the east.
But if it carries the designation UGC7064A, there sure must be a UGC7064 without the A..? There is, but it's 29 degrees to the south-southwest, also in Ursa Major and better known as the group Holmberg 232 (https://archive.stsci.edu/cgi-bin/dss_search?v=poss2ukstu_blue&r=12+04+45.30&d=%2B31+10+30.9&e=J2000&h=30&w=30&f=gif&c=none&fov=NONE&v3=) / Rose 8 / KTG 41.
Here is our object of the week, @ 12:04:44 +60d40m20s. Both images are only 5 minutes of arc in size:
4648 4649
In NED it is listed as a galaxy triple (http://ned.ipac.caltech.edu/cgi-bin/objsearch?objname=UGC7064A&extend=no&hconst=73&omegam=0.27&omegav=0.73&corr_z=1&out_csys=Equatorial&out_equinox=J2000.0&obj_sort=RA+or+Longitude&of=pre_text&zv_breaker=30000.0&list_limit=5&img_stamp=YES) with a population count (http://ned.ipac.caltech.edu/cgi-bin/objsearch?objname=UGC7064A&extend=no&hconst=73&omegam=0.27&omegav=0.73&corr_z=1&out_csys=Equatorial&out_equinox=J2000.0&obj_sort=RA+or+Longitude&of=pre_text&zv_breaker=30000.0&list_limit=5&img_stamp=YES#BasicData_0) of 4 (...). It's a bit of a confusing mess when it comes to designations. Let's break it down.
Starting in the west, we see a bright little fellow. NED designates it UGC7064A NED01 (http://ned.ipac.caltech.edu/cgi-bin/objsearch?objname=UGC+07064A+NED01&extend=no&hconst=73&omegam=0.27&omegav=0.73&corr_z=1&out_csys=Equatorial&out_equinox=J2000.0&obj_sort=RA+or+Longitude&of=pre_text&zv_breaker=30000.0&list_limit=5&img_stamp=YES). But it's a star, as confirmed by SDSS (http://skyserver.sdss.org/dr16/en/tools/explore/Summary.aspx?id=1237658312940257465), known as 4UCAC754-046749 (a.k.a. SDSS J120441.17+604019.3).
West of center is the brightest galaxy of the bunch: PGC38217 (http://skyserver.sdss.org/dr16/en/tools/explore/Summary.aspx?id=1237658312940257466), UGC7064A NED02 (http://ned.ipac.caltech.edu/cgi-bin/objsearch?objname=UGC7064A+NED02&extend=no&hconst=73&omegam=0.27&omegav=0.73&corr_z=1&out_csys=Equatorial&out_equinox=J2000.0&obj_sort=RA+or+Longitude&of=pre_text&zv_breaker=30000.0&list_limit=5&img_stamp=YES). SIMBAD says this is both UGC7064A & B (http://simbad.u-strasbg.fr/simbad/sim-id?Ident=UGC7064A&NbIdent=1&Radius=2&Radius.unit=arcmin&submit=submit+id), where NED does not list anything other than -A, but only for the group as a whole. Its nucleus is a tad fainter than the star to its west appears to be.
Directly north-northeast is an extremely faint one: SDSS J120443.44+604027.3 (http://skyserver.sdss.org/dr16/en/tools/explore/Summary.aspx?id=1237658312940257470), (.2 in NED (http://ned.ipac.caltech.edu/cgi-bin/objsearch?objname=SDSS+J120443.44%2B604027.2&extend=no&hconst=73&omegam=0.27&omegav=0.73&corr_z=1&out_csys=Equatorial&out_equinox=J2000.0&obj_sort=RA+or+Longitude&of=pre_text&zv_breaker=30000.0&list_limit=5&img_stamp=YES), but that may be a typo).
To the east of PGC38217 is PGC200281 (http://skyserver.sdss.org/dr16/en/tools/explore/Summary.aspx?id=1237658312940257467), UGC7064A NED03 (http://ned.ipac.caltech.edu/cgi-bin/objsearch?objname=UGC7064A+NED03&extend=no&hconst=73&omegam=0.27&omegav=0.73&corr_z=1&out_csys=Equatorial&out_equinox=J2000.0&obj_sort=RA+or+Longitude&of=pre_text&zv_breaker=30000.0&list_limit=5&img_stamp=YES). Like its sibling to the west it is very small and faint, but it does sport a prominent dark lane along with a nucleus. SIMBAD says it's UGC7064C (http://simbad.u-strasbg.fr/simbad/sim-id?Ident=UGC7064C&NbIdent=1&Radius=2&Radius.unit=arcmin&submit=submit+id).
I think it's clear to conclude that the two PGC galaxies are interacting. The long east-northeast to west-southwest extending lane, that appears to be passing through both galaxies, is evident.
The easternmost galaxy is SDSS J120448.91+604019.6 (http://skyserver.sdss.org/dr16/en/tools/explore/Summary.aspx?id=1237658312940257468). It too reveals a nucleus. Its redshift indicates it is in the distant background and not a physical member of this group.
There's little to none information about this group on the web. This image on Flickr is a beauty, though: https://www.flickr.com/photos/geckzilla/48267298226
As the image reveals, SDSS J120441.17+604019.3 is indeed as star. To its west, on the western edge of the extending lane, is yet another faint galaxy. It may be SDSS J120439.72+604016.1, although classified as a star in SDSS.
As always, I have pieced together an observing guide for this OOTW. Click here (https://clearskies.eu/csog/downloads/dsfootw2022/#14) to download it.
4650 4651 4652
Well... you know what to do! Use Jimi's scope, and let us know.