Object of the Week September 23,2018- IC 311 One Strange and Unusual Galaxy

[Jimi Lowrey]

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"

[Ivan Maly]

To me, the photo looks similar to Cen A, NGC 5128, whose dark lane is also double (and seen as such even with my travel 5.5"). The latter is S0 pec, or even S0+S0pec, or (E0+Sb)? on NED, again consistent with the merger idea for this one. This is a great target - thanks, Jimi.

[wvreeven]

Wow that IS an interesting object. Great choice Jimi! And also thanks for suggesting more galaxies like this one. Just one small comment: should NGC 7813 be NGC 7814? Sorry to be picky ;-)

[Jimi Lowrey]

Thanks for catching my typo you are right the little sombrero is NGC 7814.

[Bertrand Laville]

Hi All,

Among the numerous list of galaxy with dark lane, the only one I've sketched is NGC 7814, Little sombrero.
Here is my report:
http://www.deepsky-drawings.com/ngc-7814/dsdlang/fr

Clear skies
Bertrand
http://www.deepsky-drawings.com/


NGC 7814 T635 BL 2009 10 18.jpg

[Uwe Glahn]

Tried IC 311 Jimi but could not see the main dark lane directly with the 27". I saw an edge with elongation within the galaxy but not as a dark, contrast lane.

You named my prime example for multiple dark lanes - NGC 7625. The structure was easily visible with the 27-inch.
27", 419x, NELM 7m0+, Seeing II-III
NGC7625.jpg