Steve Gottlieb
March 13th, 2013, 04:17 AM
I thought discussing a "cometary galaxy" might be a appropriate theme as I had my first view of PANSTARRS from the Berkeley hills today.
II Zw 40 = UGCA 116 is a very strange object. The UGCA calls it "intergalactic nebulosity?" It's been described as a prototypical H II galaxy or BCDG (Blue Compact Dwarf Galaxy) by Sargent & Searle in 1970. The nucleus of II Zw 40 is dominated by one large H II region and fans or tails extend to the south and southeast, suggesting the merger of two galaxies.
I took a look last Saturday night with my 24" and found a fairly faint, round glow, perhaps 18" diameter. A relatively bright stellar knot appeared to be at the northwest edge, though it was difficult to pinpoint the location. I didn't see any sign of the two tails and I'm guessing they would require more aperture.
Has anyone else observed this interesting galaxy? Check out the blue starburst nucleus on the SDSS image and the dual tails!
II Zw 40
05 55 42.6 +03 23 32
V ~ 14.7
499
II Zw 40 = UGCA 116 is a very strange object. The UGCA calls it "intergalactic nebulosity?" It's been described as a prototypical H II galaxy or BCDG (Blue Compact Dwarf Galaxy) by Sargent & Searle in 1970. The nucleus of II Zw 40 is dominated by one large H II region and fans or tails extend to the south and southeast, suggesting the merger of two galaxies.
I took a look last Saturday night with my 24" and found a fairly faint, round glow, perhaps 18" diameter. A relatively bright stellar knot appeared to be at the northwest edge, though it was difficult to pinpoint the location. I didn't see any sign of the two tails and I'm guessing they would require more aperture.
Has anyone else observed this interesting galaxy? Check out the blue starburst nucleus on the SDSS image and the dual tails!
II Zw 40
05 55 42.6 +03 23 32
V ~ 14.7
499