APOD: Three Galaxies in Draco (2023 Jul 01)

[APOD Robot]

Three Galaxies in Draco

Explanation: This tantalizing trio of galaxies sometimes called the Draco Group, is located in the northern constellation of (you guessed it) Draco, the Dragon. From left to right are face-on spiral NGC 5985, elliptical galaxy NGC 5982, and edge-on spiral NGC 5981, all found within this single telescopic field of view that spans a little more than the width of the full moon. While the group is far too small to be a galaxy cluster, and has not been catalogued as a compact galaxy group, the three galaxies all do lie roughly 100 million light-years from planet Earth. Not as well known as other tight groupings of galaxies, the contrast in visual appearance still makes this triplet an attractive subject for astroimagers. On close examination with spectrographs, the bright core of striking spiral NGC 5985 shows prominent emission in specific wavelengths of light, prompting astronomers to classify it as a Seyfert, a type of active galaxy. This impressively deep exposure hints at a faint dim halo along with sharp-edged shells surrounding elliptical NGC 5982, evidence of past galactic mergers. It also reveals many even more distant background galaxies.

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[Ann]

NGC 5985 and Two Friends in Draco. Image Credit & Copyright: David Vernet , Jean-François Bax , Serge Brunier, OCA/C2PU

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NGC 6744. Credit: Basudeb Chakrabarti/Telescope Live.

So what is NGC 6744 in Pavo, the Peacock, doing with two galactic friends in Draco, the Dragon? Are we by any chance watching a Peacock-Dragon in the sky?

Peacock-Dragon. Artwork: Gloucestershire Lettering Arts.

Constellation map from 1693 by Ignace Gaston Pardies.

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Isn't the Peacock-Dragon a gorgeous creature? And wouldn't he fit right in with the other mythological creatures of the heavens?


Anway. Aren't NGC 5985 and NGC 6844 remarkably similar? Both are large spiral galaxies with small bars and a good amount of blue stars, but no roaring star formation going on, and relatively yellow colors overall. Both have reasonably bright yellow centers and a comparatively low dust content. Their arms even wind the same way! The main difference appears to be that the spiral arms of NGC 5985 are much better defined than the spiral arms of NGC 6744.

And the main difference between constellation Draco and constellation Pavo is that Draco is far north as seen from the Earth and Pavo is far south! But the Peacock-Dragon uncurls his tail and spreads his wings so as to join north and south of the sky!

It's not a Peacock-Dragon, but it's spreading its wings across the sky!

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And as the Peacock-Dragon spreads his wing, may NGC 5985-6744 rule over them all! Victor, can you create an overlay?

Ann

[VictorBorun]

...

Click to view full size image 1 or image 2

NGC 5985 and NGC 6844 in a split field of view,
similar to astrometric images

[Ann]

NGC 5985 and NGC 6844..jpg

...

Click to view full size image 1 or image 2

NGC 5985 and NGC 6844 in a split field of view,
similar to astrometric images

Thanks, Victor!

Ann

[Christian G.]

Three galaxies, and three quasars as well! Fourth image here: http://www.astrosurf.com/topic/162191-n ... du-dragon/

[johnnydeep]

Ann, I don't understand your reference to NGC 6744, other than that it too is a nice example of a nearly face-on spiral). Is it near this trio in the sky, as I might guess by you're referring to a fanciful Peacock Dragon? (Sorry, but my constellational "geography" is nonexistent.)

[jeffbax]

Thank you for discussing on our image. Clear skies.

JF Bax

[Ann]

Ann, I don't understand your reference to NGC 6744, other than that it too is a nice example of a nearly face-on spiral). Is it near this trio in the sky, as I might guess by you're referring to a fanciful Peacock Dragon? (Sorry, but my constellational "geography" is nonexistent.)

I think they look quite similar, except that NGC 6744 lacks sharply defined arms. But both are big, both have smallish bars, both have similar color indices, both have arms that wind in the same direction, and both are seen at the same angle from the Earth.

I just thought that the names "Pavo" (the constellation of NGC 6744) and "Draco" (the constellation of the three galaxies in today's APOD) sound quite similar! You could almost mix them up! So I thought, what if you actually mixed them up, so that you got a Pavo-Draco, a Peacock-Dragon? And when I googled Peacock-Dragon, I actually found several nice pictures of such creatures! I picked the most striking-looking one and posted it.

And I thought, what if we had a constellation "Pavo-Draco"? Then NGC 6744 and the Draco galaxies would be in the same constellation, but the Pavo-Draco constellation would somehow cover most of the sky!

It seemed just ridiculously funny to me. That's my kind of humor, you know.

Ann

[orin stepanek]

So Pretty; yet so far away! Too bad that space travel cannot fathom
the distances of these beauties! Don't know if I was born too soon or
too late!

[johnnydeep]

Ann, I don't understand your reference to NGC 6744, other than that it too is a nice example of a nearly face-on spiral). Is it near this trio in the sky, as I might guess by you're referring to a fanciful Peacock Dragon? (Sorry, but my constellational "geography" is nonexistent.)

I think they look quite similar, except that NGC 6744 lacks sharply defined arms. But both are big, both have smallish bars, both have similar color indices, both have arms that wind in the same direction, and both are seen at the same angle from the Earth.

I just thought that the names "Pavo" (the constellation of NGC 6744) and "Draco" (the constellation of the three galaxies in today's APOD) sound quite similar! You could almost mix them up! So I thought, what if you actually mixed them up, so that you got a Pavo-Draco, a Peacock-Dragon? And when I googled Peacock-Dragon, I actually found several nice pictures of such creatures! I picked the most striking-looking one and posted it.

And I thought, what if we had a constellation "Pavo-Draco"? Then NGC 6744 and the Draco galaxies would be in the same constellation, but the Pavo-Draco constellation would somehow cover most of the sky!

It seemed just ridiculously funny to me. That's my kind of humor, you know.

Ann

Ok, got it. Those were indeed some very nice fanciful pictures!

[AVAO]

Thank you for discussing on our image. Clear skies.

JF Bax

"NGC 5982 shows multiple shells, but also a giant stellar halo that we have never seen before. The detection was confirmed by the professionals before publishing the image and brillance measurements are in progress. A 132 x 60 s superflat with no filter has been used for the luminance to reach this LSB (Low surface brightness) halo." https://www.astrobin.com/os11uz/B/

ThanX to the TEAM OMICRON

I haven't seen anything better so far. The Hubble images only show small sections of your panorama with a slightly better depth of detail and only in individual wavelengths. But your pictures are in the optical range and show an incredible depth of detail over a huge area in a harmonized form. Unbelievable good. I am especially pleased that you not only produce incredibly good pictures, but also do research with them at the same time. I think your pictures are an absolutely valuable addition to the NASA & ESA pictures, with which we work. Please go on with this amazing stuff!

Congratulations from Switzerland
Jac / AVAO team

[jeffbax]

Thank you so much AVAO team. We really apreciate your message

JF

[VictorBorun]

DracoTrio_TeamOmicron1024.jpg
ngc6946e_gendler.jpg
So Pretty; yet so far away! Too bad that space travel cannot fathom
the distances of these beauties! Don't know if I was born too soon or
too late!

if Three Galaxies in Draco is an art object, we might be in the right place to appreciate it.
Maybe it's the famous monkey who would hear nothing but now decides to open an ear?

[Ann]

Thank you for discussing on our image. Clear skies.

JF Bax

"NGC 5982 shows multiple shells, but also a giant stellar halo that we have never seen before. The detection was confirmed by the professionals before publishing the image and brillance measurements are in progress. A 132 x 60 s superflat with no filter has been used for the luminance to reach this LSB (Low surface brightness) halo." https://www.astrobin.com/os11uz/B/

ThanX to the TEAM OMICRON

I haven't seen anything better so far. The Hubble images only show small sections of your panorama with a slightly better depth of detail and only in individual wavelengths. But your pictures are in the optical range and show an incredible depth of detail over a huge area in a harmonized form. Unbelievable good. I am especially pleased that you not only produce incredibly good pictures, but also do research with them at the same time. I think your pictures are an absolutely valuable addition to the NASA & ESA pictures, with which we work. Please go on with this amazing stuff!

Congratulations from Switzerland
Jac / AVAO team

I agree! It's a truly great image!

Ann

[jeffbax]

Thank you Ann.

JF