NGC7331 & Stephen's Quintet

 

     NGC7331 is the fairly bright and elongated spiral galaxy seen here at the right almost edge on from our viewpoint.  This galaxy lies about 48 million light years away towards the constellation Pegasus and is surrounded by several fainter galaxies of which at least 4 are just viewable in this image.

     Stephen's Quintet is the cluster of five faint galaxies on the left including NGC7317, NGC7318A&B, NGC7319 and NGC7320.  These are a mix of spiral and eliptical galaxies with NGC7318A and NGC7318B interacting with a common halo.  Large telescopes are needed to see these visually with the brightest being only 13th magnitude. 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Optics Camera ISO Exposure Mount/Guiding Processing Location Date
TEC 140 @ f7 Canon Rebel XT (350D) modified; Type 1a filter 800 10 x 10 min G11; ST4 through STV70 Dark Subtract & stack in DeepSkyStacker; Levels & Curves in PS CS5 Tehachapi, CA 9/11/10

Comments: Clear skies.  Average seeing.  Enjoyed first time imaging next to Craig Gates new observatory on the ridge above Bear Valley.