Celestial hemisphere:  Southern  ·  Constellation: Virgo (Vir)  ·  Contains:  NGC 4691
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NGC 4691, Gary Imm
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NGC 4691

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NGC 4691, Gary Imm
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NGC 4691

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Description

This object is a fascinating face-on barred spiral galaxy located 70 million light years away in the constellation of Virgo. Its apparent diameter is 3 arc-minutes and its true diameter is 60,000 light years.

This is a very interesting object with signs of active star formation. The "core" consists of 4 tiny bright areas near the center of the bar. On each side of this region is a diagonal dark dust band. The whole galaxy has a reddish Ha-type tint and is reminiscent on a smaller scale of the reddish Ha glow of M82.

Beyond the core, there appears to be at least 3 different star regions - an outer circular disc, a middle ring, and inner short arcing arms which emanate from each side of the long bar. This star pattern doesn't seem to be deformed or the results of any obvious interaction with another galaxy. I like the surrounding field of colorful stars and galaxies, especially the bright blue irregular galaxy below and left of center.

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