Object of the Week Nov 24, 2019 – Arp 331 – Chain of Galaxies in Pisces
Coordinates for the middle galaxy of the chain:
NGC 383 RA: 01 07 25 Dec: +32 24 45 Mag 13.4v
I think this is a pretty cool chain of 8 NGC galaxies spanning a north-south length of less than 20’. The member galaxies range from mag 12.9v to 15.5v, so a 10 inch under dark skies should be able to see all, but one. A 16” should catch the last one, NGC 387.
I enjoy looking at galaxy chains and this is a great example of a fairly bright chain and well placed in the late fall sky.
Listing from north to south. (copied from my Arp book)
NGC 379 (mag 12.8v) – bright, 2:1 elongated patch with diffuse edges. Brighter slightly elongated nucleus. PA = 0 and 1.2’ long.
NGC 380 (13.6b) – bright, round, much brighter center. 1’ in diameter.
NGC 383 (13.4v) – very bright, round, brighter center. Diffuse edges and 1’ across.
NGC 382 (14.2p) – bright small round even surface brightness patch. About 30” across. This is almost merged with NGC 383 on the NE edge.
NGC 387 (15.5) – considerably faint, small round, stellar nucleus. 10” across
NGC 386 (14.3v) – bright small round, nearly stellar nucleus. 15” across.
NGC 385 (12.9v) – bright round patch with a brighter center with a nearly stellar nucleus. 30” across.
NGC 388 (14.3v) – very faint, small round even surface brightness patch. 15” across
NGC 384 (13.1v)– bright small round much brighter center to a nearly stellar nucleus. 30” across
Observed with my 22” @ 184, 255, 305 and 458x under NELM 6.5 skies.
Arp 331.jpeg
Arp 331 with the Sloan Digital Sky Survey
Arp 331.jpg
Labeled inverted DSS image
Arp 331 Eyepiece.jpg
Eyepiece rendition with my 22” at 255x. Field: 19.3’
So Give it a go and Let us know!