deepskytraveler
September 2nd, 2024, 10:56 PM
NGC 4125; UGC 7118; PGC 38524; CGCG 315-019; CGCG 1205.6+6527; MCG +11-15-027
Constellation: Draco
Type: Galaxy
Morphology: E6 pec
RA: 12h 08m 06s
Dec: +65° 10’ 27”
Mag: 9.7(v)
SB: 13.3
Size: 6.1’ x 5.1’
NGC 4121; PGC 38508; CGCG 315-018; CGCG 1205.5+6523; MCG +11-15-026
Constellation: Draco
Type: Galaxy
Morphology: E
RA: 12h 07m 57s
Dec: +65° 06’ 50”
Mag: 13.5(v)
SB: 13.1
Size: 1.0’ x 0.8’
NGC 4121 and NGC 4125 are companion galaxies in the constellation Draco. NGC 4125 is the brighter and significantly larger of these two elliptical galaxies.
NGC 4125 was discovered on January 4, 1850 by English astronomer John Russell Hind. Sometime prior to 1862 NGC 4125 was independently observed by German astronomer Arthur von Auwers, however he failed to record the date of his observation. Per John Dreyer in his New General Catalogue of Nebulae and Clusters of Stars, NGC 4125 is "pretty bright, pretty large, considerably extended, much brighter middle.” NGC 4121 was discovered September 9, 1866 by German astronomer Heinrich d'Arrest. Once again per Dreyer, NGC 4121 is "faint, very small, a little extended, mottled but not resolved.”
55185519
NGC 4125 is an elliptical galaxy, with a cataloged morphology of E6 pec (peculiar). What makes this galaxy so unusual? The January 2020 issue of Astronomy magazine says that this galaxy is “a peculiar massive elliptical galaxy in which evolved stars produced in a merger-triggered burst of star formation are pumping large amounts of gas and dust into the galaxy’s interstellar medium”. Odd ellipticals and past mergers seem to go hand-in-hand. Two things contribute to NGC 4125’s peculiar morphology. The first is the faint dust clouds which are seen in the immediate vicinity around the core. The second is the faint star stream pattern which extends beyond the bright horizontal oval region. There are at least 7 lobes spreading outward, making the galaxy look a bit like a big fuzzy star.
Here is an observation of NGC 4121 and 4125 to get you started. From The Night Sky Observer’s Guide Volume 2 Spring & Summer by George Robert Kepple and Glen W. Sanner “In 16”/18” scopes at 150x: NGC 4125 is a bright edge-on galaxy elongated 4’ x 2’ E-W containing an oval core brightening to a brilliant non-stellar nucleus. A 13th magnitude star lies 1.75’ NNE. The companion galaxy, NGC 4121, located 3.5’ SSW of NGC 4125, is a faint, diffuse, circular 45” diameter glow.”
5520
Now it is your turn. As always…give it a go and let us know!
Constellation: Draco
Type: Galaxy
Morphology: E6 pec
RA: 12h 08m 06s
Dec: +65° 10’ 27”
Mag: 9.7(v)
SB: 13.3
Size: 6.1’ x 5.1’
NGC 4121; PGC 38508; CGCG 315-018; CGCG 1205.5+6523; MCG +11-15-026
Constellation: Draco
Type: Galaxy
Morphology: E
RA: 12h 07m 57s
Dec: +65° 06’ 50”
Mag: 13.5(v)
SB: 13.1
Size: 1.0’ x 0.8’
NGC 4121 and NGC 4125 are companion galaxies in the constellation Draco. NGC 4125 is the brighter and significantly larger of these two elliptical galaxies.
NGC 4125 was discovered on January 4, 1850 by English astronomer John Russell Hind. Sometime prior to 1862 NGC 4125 was independently observed by German astronomer Arthur von Auwers, however he failed to record the date of his observation. Per John Dreyer in his New General Catalogue of Nebulae and Clusters of Stars, NGC 4125 is "pretty bright, pretty large, considerably extended, much brighter middle.” NGC 4121 was discovered September 9, 1866 by German astronomer Heinrich d'Arrest. Once again per Dreyer, NGC 4121 is "faint, very small, a little extended, mottled but not resolved.”
55185519
NGC 4125 is an elliptical galaxy, with a cataloged morphology of E6 pec (peculiar). What makes this galaxy so unusual? The January 2020 issue of Astronomy magazine says that this galaxy is “a peculiar massive elliptical galaxy in which evolved stars produced in a merger-triggered burst of star formation are pumping large amounts of gas and dust into the galaxy’s interstellar medium”. Odd ellipticals and past mergers seem to go hand-in-hand. Two things contribute to NGC 4125’s peculiar morphology. The first is the faint dust clouds which are seen in the immediate vicinity around the core. The second is the faint star stream pattern which extends beyond the bright horizontal oval region. There are at least 7 lobes spreading outward, making the galaxy look a bit like a big fuzzy star.
Here is an observation of NGC 4121 and 4125 to get you started. From The Night Sky Observer’s Guide Volume 2 Spring & Summer by George Robert Kepple and Glen W. Sanner “In 16”/18” scopes at 150x: NGC 4125 is a bright edge-on galaxy elongated 4’ x 2’ E-W containing an oval core brightening to a brilliant non-stellar nucleus. A 13th magnitude star lies 1.75’ NNE. The companion galaxy, NGC 4121, located 3.5’ SSW of NGC 4125, is a faint, diffuse, circular 45” diameter glow.”
5520
Now it is your turn. As always…give it a go and let us know!