NGC 3359

Click on image for larger version.

This delicate spiral galaxy is located 49 million light years away. Astronomers who recently studied this galaxy determined that the central bar of the galaxy is a relatively young feature (by galactic standards) at around 1/2 billion years old. Through time galaxies change in their structure and shape. This galaxy might evenutally look something like NGC 1300. These astronomers also analyzed 77 HII (gas clouds, pink in this picture) regions in this galaxy.

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 = 90 minutes binned 1x1
 Red = 20 minutes binned 2x2
 Green = 20 minutes binned 2x2
 Blue = 20 minutes binned 2x2
  • Color data by Steve Zigler (4/23/04)- taken under very poor conditions.
  • One iteration of L-R deconvolution (sharpening) algorithm using CCDsharp was 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.

    		•

    Minimum credit line: Svend and Carl Freytag/Adam Block/NOAO/AURA/NSF

    RETURN to the GALAXIES page.

    BACK to main Best of AOP page.

    Would you like to take images like this? Click here.

    [NOAO logo] Return to NOAO Home Page

    Updated: 04/21/2004