Object of the Week July 22, 2018- IC 4630 A Post Merger

[Jimi Lowrey]

IC 4630

Hercules

RA
16 55 09
DEC
+26 39 46

Type S? Starburst

Mag 14V
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IC 4630 is a most interesting post merger type of galaxy with tidal tails extending North and South. It was discovered by Javelle on July 27th 1903 with the 30" refractor at Nice.

IMG_0094.JPG

I have observed IC 4630 many times and have seen the South tidal tale with Steve Gottlieb's 24" in California. It also had a bright stellar nuclei. The challenge with this cosmic crash is to see the North tidal arm.

PanSTARRS G Band
IMG_0096.GIF

I am interested to here your observations of this crash and if you are able to catch the North tidal arm.

So GIVE IT A GO!

[Uwe Glahn]

Wow Jimi,

that was a really tough one. I tried it during two nights with very good transparency with the 27". While the larger southern plume was relative easy to see, the thin eastern tidal was at the absulute limit of the 27". It was popping in and out of view several times under good seeing conditions on both nights. I had the feeling, that at the starting point directly on IC 4630 the tail was thinner as at the end.

At the second night I double-check both tidals with Frank's 36". The more difficult eastern tail was now a safe catch. I could hold the narrow details for seconds each. Not easy at all but Frank confirms the detail.

sketch: 27", 586x-837x, NELM 7m0+, Seeing II-III
IC4630.jpg