NGC 1232: Spiral Galaxy in Eridanus

Click on image for larger version.

NGC 1232 is a "Grand Design" spiral galaxy not unlike M101. However, in this case the spiral arms are curiously bent and not gently curved as is more typically the case. This is most likely due to gravitation interactions with its neighbor (on the top in this image). It is almost as if the structure of the central bar of the galaxy has somehow been morphed into the structure of the arms (wild speculation!). NGC 1232 is approximately 70 million light years away.

Equipment

16in RC Optical Systems telescope Operating at f/8
Paramount ME Robotic Telescope Mount
SBIG ST10XME CCD camera with color filter wheel

L R G B color production was used to create this image.

Luminance = 105 minutes binned 1x1
 Red = 30 minutes binned 2x2
 Green = 30 minutes binned 2x2
 Blue = 30 minutes binned 2x2
  • Very poor seeing. Under better conditions it would be possible to resolve the myriad of thin dust lanes in the center of the galaxy.
  • Two iterations of L-R deconvolution (sharpening) algorithm using CCDsharp were applied to the luminance image.

    • Minimum credit line: John Beswetherick/Adam Block/NOAO/AURA/NSF

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    Updated: 01/01/03