Celestial hemisphere:  Northern  ·  Constellation: Lyra (Lyr)  ·  Contains:  NGC 6702  ·  NGC 6703  ·  PGC 2267019
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NGC 6702 and NGC 6703, Gary Imm
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NGC 6702 and NGC 6703

Getting plate-solving status, please wait...
NGC 6702 and NGC 6703, Gary Imm
Powered byPixInsight

NGC 6702 and NGC 6703

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Description

This pair of galaxies is located in the constellation of Lyra at a declination of +46 degrees.  This image is a great visual comparison between the structure of an elliptical galaxy (NGC 6702, at upper right) and a lenticular galaxy (NGC 6703, at lower left).  The elliptical galaxy looks smaller but it is actually the larger galaxy, located further away.

NGC 6702 is a magnitude 13.0 oblong (E3) elliptical galaxy located 170 million light years away.  It spans 1.7 arc-minutes in our apparent view.  This corresponds to a diameter of 80,000 light years. Note how the brightness profiles drops off in a constant manner in the outer half of its galactic halo.

NGC 6703 is a magnitude 11.3 face-on lenticular galaxy which is closer at 90 million light years away.  It spans 2 arc-minutes in our apparent view.  This corresponds to a diameter of 60,000 light years.  Compared to the elliptical, the brightness profile in the outer half of the disk is fairly constant until the edge.  Lenticulars have more of a defined outside edge than ellipticals.  Also, as seen here, the boundary between the inner and outer disk regions is more abrupt.

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