NGC 5609
Bootes
Ra 14 23 48 Dec +34 50 34
Type ?
Mag 15.6V
Z=0.10058 Light travel time 1.3 Billon light years.
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Hi all I am filling in for Dragan this week he is traveling.
NGC 5609 is one of the most distant galaxies in the NGC/IC catalog and so far it is the most distant that I have found and confirmed by the redshift that was found visually. It was found by Bindon Blood Stoney with Lord Parsons 72” reflector on the night of March 1, 1851. Blood Stoney turned the 72” to NGC 5614 (AKA Arp 178) on that night to map the spiral structure of NGC 5614. To his surprise he found the nebula NGC 5613,NGC 5615 and NGC 5609 all near NGC 5614.
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What makes NGC 5609 so interesting is how distant it is with a light travel time of 1.3 billion light years. So if you like ancient photons give it a go! I must admit that it is not much to look at my meager notes say that at 488X it is small round with a even surface brightness and is direct vision. But knowing that you are seeing billion year old light changes everything for me.
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If you want to see the most distant object in the NGC/IC catalog that was found visually and become a member of the Billion Light Year Galaxy Club “Give It A Go”. Good Luck and Great Viewing.
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