M90


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By
Catalog
Obj Type
Location
Date Taken:
Smoot
Messier 90
Galaxy
Mayhill, NM
05-24-2011
Description

M90 (or NGC4569) is a spiral galaxy located about 60 million light years away.  This galaxy is part of the Virgo cluster of galaxies and is one of the Virgo cluster galaxies that has a velocity in the direction of the earth.  This galaxy has been found to have a low level of Hydrogen alpha in its arms, likely caused by an interaction between the galaxy and the inter cluster meduim that is part of the cluster itself.  See discussion at Tshocke, et al.  This also accounts for the relatively soft edge of the galaxy.

The galaxy just above and to the right of M90 is IC3583.  This is a Magellenic type galaxy that lies about 60 million light years away from M90 and is unlikely to be interacting with it.  This galaxy is bluer and does have some star formation occurring.

In addition to these galaxies, several other smaller galaxies can be seen in the larger version of this image.  These can be identified to be many PCG galaxies with magnitudes of 20-23. 

Technical Details
Exposure Time:
5.5 hrs Lum and 2 hrs each RGB
Camera:
SBIG STL-11000M
Telescope:
RCOS 16 inch f/8.7 Ritchey-Chretien
Mount:
Software Bisque Paramount ME
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