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View Full Version : Object to the Week July 9, 2023- NGC 5297 “The Hook Galaxy”



Jimi Lowrey
July 9th, 2023, 06:12 PM
NGC 5297
Canes Venatici
RA
13 46 23
Dec
+43 52 19
Mag 12.6 V
Type SAB
………………………………………… ……………………..
If you notice in the image below NGC 5297 has what appears as a most unusual hook like appearance in its southern spiral arm. The first time a saw this I was intrigued if this hook like feature would be visible in my telescope. NGC 5297 is interacting with NGC 5296 a S0 type galaxy close by. This interaction may be what is the causes of the hook in the spiral arm of NGC 5297.

SDSS
5183

NGC 5297 was found on April 9, 1787 by William Herschel. It is interesting to me that he missed the 14.3 V Mag NGC 5296 so close by. NGC 5296 was found later by George Stoney on May 3, 1850 with the 72” telescope of William Parsons.

I observed this gem last night under excellent seeing conditions and fair transparency for summer. At 610x and 813X NGC 5297 was a sight to behold. The spiral structure was plainly evident and brighter core was a sight to see. I could easily see the hook arm going between the stars on the South end and with averted vision I could see the hook turning up. I could not see the hook going back towards the galaxy. But what I did see was awesome. In the deep image below you can see the interaction of the galaxies.

Capella Team
5184

I have a reason to return to this remarkable pair while I was doing research on this group I learned of a high redshift galaxy close by and just to the south of NGC 5296. It is PGC 48812 with a Z=0.0863 which give it a light travel time of 1.1 GLY

So next time why not see this interesting pair and maybe you can catch the hook!

Give It ago!

Good Luck and Great viewing!

Don Pensack
July 10th, 2023, 07:34 PM
It looks like the outer arms have been distorted on both sides.
http://panther-observatory.com/gallery/deepsky/doc/NGC5297_CAP_36.htm
Reminiscent of NGC247, but more disturbed than 247:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NGC_247#/media/File:Wide_Field_Imager_view_of_the_spiral_galaxy_N GC_247.jpg

Uwe Glahn
July 12th, 2023, 04:32 PM
I noted an observation with my old 14.5-inch and 283x under rural skies. I noted: sharply defined longer NE side; peak inside 5297 at the NW end; two faint stars at the SE end; 5296 steadily visible with averted vision but with no details

I clearly have to revisit this pair with my 27-inch.