Celestial hemisphere:  Northern  ·  Constellation: Coma Berenices (Com)  ·  Contains:  NGC 4613  ·  NGC 4614  ·  NGC 4615
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NGC 4615 - Galaxy Group in Coma Berenices., astroeyes
NGC 4615 - Galaxy Group in Coma Berenices.
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NGC 4615 - Galaxy Group in Coma Berenices.

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NGC 4615 - Galaxy Group in Coma Berenices., astroeyes
NGC 4615 - Galaxy Group in Coma Berenices.
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NGC 4615 - Galaxy Group in Coma Berenices.

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Description

In Coma Berenices lies this pretty little trio of galaxies. NGC 4615 is the big blue 'Integral sign' galaxy. It has a magnitude of 13.8 and measures about 2' x 1'. The rather odd looking barred spiral looks almost to have formed it's 2 arms into a complete ring around the galaxy. It has a magnitude of 14.2 and measures about 2' x 1'. Also visible is NGC 4613 which is a small lenticular galaxy. It is magnitude 15.4 and measures about 0.5' x0.5'.

All 3 galaxies are in the same group; they are all about 230 MLy distant, yet there appears to be no great evidence of interaction. NGC 4615 is unusual in that it is an 'Integral sign' galaxy and there are very few of these to be seen in the sky. It is a starburst galaxy but exactly which of the other 2 galaxies caused the starburst is not clear - neither is the reason for NGC 4615 to form an 'integral sign'.

The entire group is sometimes known as Arp 34. I recorded my image on the 17th April when I made 45 x 2 minute exposures of the group through my 10" Newtonian reflector / SX H9C.

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NGC 4615 - Galaxy Group in Coma Berenices., astroeyes