3 Attachment(s)
Object of the Week October 11, 2015: NGC 278, the "Neon Sign Galaxy".
NGC 278, The “Neon-Sign” Galaxy
Cassiopeia
RA 00 05 06
DEC 47 33 03
Type: Galaxy
Class: SAB(rs)b
Size: 2.1' x 2.0'
Magnitude: 10.9
This week’s OOTW is a gem hidden in Cassiopeia, a constellation with few observable galaxies. I only came across it last month, while checking out the constellation and seeing it on a chart. It is a rather obscure object, although included in most detailed deep-sky observing guides. But usually only a few quick notes are attached to it, saying that it is a rather bright galaxy, or, as is the case with Burnham’s, only a photo is included. Yet this galaxy is one of the best galaxies visible at this time of the year!
NGC 278 is a rather compact starburst galaxy of a SAB(rs)b type, with a distinct nuclear ring, located at approximately 38 million light years away. The high rate of star formation fooled E. Hubble in calculating a distance of only 5 mly away.
Attachment 1816
Observationally, this galaxy is situated in a rather desolated area. When I noticed its presence on a Megastar chart, only two degrees away from the better known NGC 147 and NGC 185 galaxies, I expected the usual “faint fuzzy” to pop in the field. Yet, at even a low power, my 18” showed a very bright roundish object in a beautiful starfield. I immediately increased the power, and possibly for the first time in my observing history, I saw a deep sky object that seemed to be alive in the field! Using 275X I observed a bright nucleus surrounded by a rather squarish distinct halo. What’s more, it seemed that within the halo, bright patches appeared and disappeared all the time. It reminded me of those lights outside casinos or bars with neon lights lighting up and going off one after the other giving the impression of a moving light around the main sign – hence my name “The Neon Sign Galaxy”.
On the night I discovered NGC 278 I had to cut my observing session short, but I was able to re-observe the galaxy the next evening. At 275X with my 18” I again observed the neon-light effect. Doubling the magnification to 550X I could no longer see the neon-light effect, but now I could see a bright nucleus surrounded by a bright inner region, giving way to an extensive (relatively speaking as the galaxy is quite small) halo of a rather rectangular shape. I could now detect four distinct brightenings at the edge of the halo, suggesting either bright knots within spiral arms, or brighter segments of actual spiral arms. The view was simply mesmerizing. Checking my drawing later against some of the few photos of NGC 278 available, it seems that the four bright patches correspond well to bright patches within the short stubby arms. Maybe under steadier conditions I could even resolve the arms.
Attachment 1817
During the same night I observed NGC 278 with my 5” f5 achromat. It was readily visible as a fuzzy star even at low powers. The best view through my 5” was obtained using a 7mm Nagler, which at 86x showed a bright nucleus surrounded by a rectangular halo. No “neon-light” effect was visible with the 5”, but certainly a worthwhile object for the popular refractors in the 3-5 inch range.
Attachment 1818
So, NGC 278 is a wonderful diversion from Cassiopeia's star clusters and nebulae, visible in most if not all telescopes. Next time you are in Cassiopeia, search for this galaxy, and as always,
"Give it a go and let us know!"
