Object of The week June 16, 2019- IC 4017 The Most Distant Object in the NGC/IC Catalog

IC 4017

Coma
RA 13 00 15.9
DEC +22 33 20

Mag 17.1

Type Merger

Z=0.1773 = 2.21 Gyr
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Last time I posted the most distant galaxy found visually in the NGC/IC catalog. Now I will feature the most distant galaxy in the NGC/IC catalog that I have found to date. It is IC 4017 with a light travel time of 2.21 billion light years. IC 4017 was found by the German astro photo pioneer Max Wolf. He found IC 4017 on a photographic plate JANUARY 1. 1907. This small faint merger is unassuming to have such a big title as the most distant galaxy in the NGC/IC catalog and is not well know.

Attachment 3559

I have observed IC 4017 several times in the last few months my notes say “ @488X it is Small Fairly faint Looked elongated was direct vision and had a even brightness”. I must admit that IC 4017 is not much to see but if you catch it you have the honor of seeing a galaxy at a light travel time of 2.2 billon light years and also the most distant Object in the NGC/IC catalog. For me that is really exciting to see its ancient light and try to ponder its great distances.

So if you are up for a challenge try IC 4017 and be among the few who have seen IC 4017 visually.

As always GIVE IT A GO I look forward to hearing about your observations.

Hi Jimi,

according to STEINICKE the galaxy has a visual brightness of 15,4mag - so worth a try even with scopes around 10".

Thanks for the observing suggestion.

CS
Norman

I doubt it's that bright based on available magnitudes --

HyperLEDA gives a rough blue magnitude of 17.44 ± 0.37 and more importantly SDSS photometry has g = 17.49 and r = 16.72. This suggests the V magnitude is close to 17.0. SIMBAD's g and r magnitudes are a few tenths brighter based on an older release of SDSS.

The truth is somewhere in the middle I think. Last new moon I wrote:

27", 419x, NELM 7m0+, Seeing II-III
steadily visible with averted vision, E-W elongation suspected, no spiral structure visible

I am afraid of veterans of great scope, they recommend the object of the week, It makes my scope a search engine.

Roberto.