NGC 4527

Click on image for larger version.

NGC 4527 is a spiral galaxy that is similar in shape to our nearest large neighbor, the Andromeda galaxy. However NGC 4527 is no closer than 20 times the distance to the Andromeda galaxy ( which is only 2 million light years away). The distance to this galaxy cannot be easily computed based on the expansion of the Universe since the galaxy itself has a high velocity within the Virgo Cluster of galaxies. A supernova occured in this galaxy in 1991. This could have helped nail down its distance by acting as a "standard candle." However, the light (curve) emitted by this particular stellar explosion was atypical and the distance to NGC 4527 still remains a bit uncertain.

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
  • 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: Mikhael and Janice Kollander/Adam Block/NOAO/AURA/NSF

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    Updated: 05/14/2004