VV 225

Orion

RA 05 21 56
Dec +03 29 15

Type: Galaxy Pair

Size IC 412: 1.5x0.7’, IC 413: 0.9x0.7’

Mag: IC 412: 14.6p, IC 413: 14.7p


IC 412 = IC 2123 = Javelle 608 = VV 225a
IC 413 = IC 2124 = Javelle 609 = VV 225b

As a galaxy fan, especially interacting galaxies, I ran across this pair a while ago and one of the “few, relatively speaking, that is observable during the deep winter.

IC 412 and IC 413 was originally discovered by E.E. Barnard in 1888 and again a while later, hence why it has two IC numbers. Javelle discovered them independently in 1894. It wasn’t realized until 50 years later when the CGCG catalogue came out, that IC 412/413 and IC 2123/2124 was the same pair and Corwin straightened it out in 2004.

This pair of galaxies lies about 3 degrees SSW from Bellatrix is a star rich region. With a medium to high power eyepiece, this pair is nearly embedded with a mag 12.2 star. The “trio” forms a tight 45 degree right triangle with sides about 25” long and the star at the right angle. Both members have a much brighter center cumulating in a nearly stellar center. IC 412 is slightly brighter. Otherwise both are featureless through my 22”.

Bonus object nearby, IC 414, about 5.6’ due south, also seen by Barnard when found the pair for the first time. I didn’t look for it as I didn’t know it was there. 

VV225-SDSS.jpg

Looking at the image from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS), it appears that IC 412 (the right one) has very faint spiral arms and IC 413 has a dust lane screaming across just south of the middle. Has anyone seen the spiral arms? Or the dust lane? Or even the interaction between the two galaxies.



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