IC 311
Perseus
RA
03 16 46
Dec
+40 00 13
Type LSB Galaxy
Mag 15.0
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The first time I looked at astro imager Rick Johnsons image of IC 311 all I could keep saying out loud was "what is going on here"! With its two dust lanes edge on it is a most unusual and rare type of galaxy.
Rick Johnson image
IMG_0110.JPG
I had the chance last spring on a visit to McDonald Observatory to ask galaxy expert Dr
Stephen Odewahn about this unusually galaxy. He said that it looked to him like a rare type of galaxy called an I 0 Peculiar. I ask him what would cause a galaxy like this and he said that he would guess it was some kind of merger.
SDSS image
IMG_0108.JPG
I could find little research on IC 311 as it is not well studied. It was found by Lewis Swift with his 16" Clark refractor on October 10, 1888. I have not observed it yet as to the cloudy conditions I have had lately but am anxious to see if the two dust lanes will be visible. If you have observations of this galaxy I would really like to here about them.
If you like this type of dusty galaxy below are a few that should be visible now.
NGC 943- CET
NGC 7108- AQU
NGC 7722- PEG
NGC 7399- AQU
NGC 7625- PEG
NGC 7814-PEG AKA Little Sombrero
IC 1575a- CET
UGC 304- PSC
UGC 2469- CET
"Give Them a Go"
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