Celestial hemisphere:  Southern  ·  Constellation: Pavo (Pav)  ·  Contains:  IC 4820  ·  NGC 6744
Spiral Galaxy, NGC 6744 and Integrated Flux Nebula, in the constellation Pavo, flyingairedale
Spiral Galaxy, NGC 6744 and Integrated Flux Nebula, in the constellation Pavo
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Spiral Galaxy, NGC 6744 and Integrated Flux Nebula, in the constellation Pavo

Spiral Galaxy, NGC 6744 and Integrated Flux Nebula, in the constellation Pavo, flyingairedale
Spiral Galaxy, NGC 6744 and Integrated Flux Nebula, in the constellation Pavo
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Spiral Galaxy, NGC 6744 and Integrated Flux Nebula, in the constellation Pavo

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Possessing the number 101 in the Caldwell catalog indicates this galaxy is one of the more significant deep sky objects observable in the night sky. But until I started my astroimaging journey through the night skies of the southern hemisphere, I was unaware of this nearby (as galaxies go) deep sky object. 

In the constellation Pavo, 31 million light years away and part of the Virgo super cluster, NGC 6744 is considered a "Milky Way Mimic", that closely resembles the structure of our own galaxy. The satellite galaxy to the upper right, is even similar to one of our Magellanic cloud, satellite galaxies. The satellite galaxy is designated NGC 6774A or PGC 62815. One difference from our Milky Way is that it is larger, at 175,000 light years across. 

I think I understand why so few images exist that extend beyond the arms of this galaxy. It is surrounded by a significant amount of integrated flux nebula (IFN) that are difficult to process acceptably. After  several tries, I believe I found one that accurately presents the IFN along with the many small background galaxies nearby.  I hope you enjoy this fairly well known, but new to me galaxy. Clear skies!.

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Spiral Galaxy, NGC 6744 and Integrated Flux Nebula, in the constellation Pavo, flyingairedale