NGC 1277

Perseus

RA
03 19 51
DEC
+41 34 25

MAG 13.4 V

Type S0-Pec

This was announced this week from McDonald observatory, which is just a few miles from my house. Using the Hobby-Eberly telescope, University of Texas astronomers have found a massive black hole in NGC 1277. The black hole is 17 billion solar masses THATS B for billion. The black hole is 14% of the galaxies mass were most black holes are 1% of there host galaxies mass. This could be a new type of galaxy. Below is a link to press release from McDonald Observatory.

http://mcdonaldobservatory.org/news/...2012/1128.html

Hubble image
NGC1277_Hubble.JPG

NGC 1277 was found by Lord Parsons on Dec 4, 1875 with the 72" reflector. I have put it on my observing list to revisit the next dark period. It will be fun to see this fairly bright galaxy now that it is know that there is a super size monster at its core. NGC 1277 is in the rich galaxy cluster Abell 426 (Perseus cluster) and there is lots to see in the area.

ngc 1277 dss.JPG ngc1277 sdss.jpg

Next time you're are out be sure to try NGC1277 and see if you can catch the lair of this monster in Perseus and,

"GIVE IT A GO AND LET US KNOW"

GOOD LUCK AND GREAT VIEWING!