Yes, believe it or not, there is an object at the center of this image.
This
Astrobin Debut Object is a galaxy group of 5 galaxies, called Hickson 50, located about 2 billion light years away in the constellation of Ursa Major at a declination of +56 degrees. It lies only about 0.5 degrees east of M97 (Owl Nebula).
Unlike many Hickson objects, this is a true cluster with all 5 galaxies about the same distance away. I think that this may be the most obscure, faint, and distant object that is part of a common catalogue.
The brightest galaxy, Hickson 50a, is a magnitude 16 elliptical galaxy with a diameter of 70,000 light years. Of the brightest galaxies (the “a” galaxies) in each of the 100 Hickson galaxy groups, this one (Hickson 50a) is the dimmest.
The Hickson catalog is a collection of 100 galaxy groups, established by Paul Hickson in 1982. Hickson compact galaxy groups are tightly spaced and somewhat isolated from other galaxies. A typical Hickson group has 4 galaxies, but some have up to 8. You can see more about Hickson galaxy groups in my
Astrobin Hickson Collection.
It is nice to be posting again after taking 3 days off to welcome my second grandson into the world. Spending time as a grandparent with a newborn is one of the greatest blessings that one can experience.
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