NGC 1784

Click on image for larger version.

NGC 1784 is a fairly unremarkable barred-spiral galaxy at first glance. However, studying even the seemingly common may reveal unique aspects that help forward our understanding of the universe. Recently astronomer Doug Ratay studied this particular galaxy and found some interesting things. By observing this galaxy in radio wavelengths of light he was able to map the distribution of hydrogen gas both in and surrounding NGC 1784. He found that the envelope of gas that surrounds this galaxy extends well beyond (about twice the diameter) the optical image. Furthermore, he found a clump of gas that could be a very small galaxy orbiting NGC 1784 as well as stream of gas encircling another part of the galaxy. All of these features are very similar to our own Milky Way as we have absorbed small galaxies in the past and currently doing the same to the Magellanic clouds right now. Studying how NGC 1784 does this in its environment might help us understand our own. For more information about Doug Ratay's conclusions, visit his research synopsis Here. NGC 1784 is around 100 million light years away.

Equipment

20in RC Optical Systems telescope Operating at f/8.4
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 = 75 minutes binned 1x1
 Red = 20 minutes binned 2x2
 Green = 20 minutes binned 2x2
 Blue = 20 minutes binned 2x2
  • Due to guide errors, used subtractive masks to recover otherwise unusuable data. Poor seeing resulted in loss of the guide star (as well as soft images).
  • Two iterations of L-R deconvolution (sharpening) algorithm using CCDsharp were applied to the luminance image.

  • Digital Development (DDP) via Maxim/DL was also used in order to display the the very dim and very bright details of the image simultaneously.

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    Minimum credit line: Adam Block/NOAO/AURA/NSF

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    Updated: 12/25/2003