NGC7479 Propeller Galaxy, Mark Mabry

NGC7479 Propeller Galaxy

NGC7479 Propeller Galaxy, Mark Mabry

NGC7479 Propeller Galaxy

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Description

The Propeller Galaxy (NGC 7479) is a barred spiral galaxy located about 120 million light-years away from Earth in the northern constellation of Pegasus (the Winged Horse).  NGC 7479 is also classified as a Seyfert galaxy,

It has a very asymmetric spiral structure with a bright, long bar. Its tightly wound arms create an inverted ‘S’, as they spin in an anti-clockwise direction. However, at radio wavelengths, it spins the opposite way, with a jet of radiation that bends in the opposite direction to the stars and dust in the arms of the galaxy.

This radio jet in the Propeller Galaxy was probably put into its bizarre backwards spin by a recent minor merger with another galaxy.

Star formation can be reignited by galactic collisions, and indeed NGC 7479 is undergoing starburst activity, with many bright, young stars visible in the spiral arms and disk. 

Personally, barred spiral galaxies are my favorite.  Saw this one visually, and knew that I needed to image it.  So glad I did.  Love the strong 'bar' and the long whispy arms.

Image was captured with 0.7x focal reducer, effective FL of 1315mm.  Then it was cropped after processing.  I am already planning to image it again next year at f/10, FL 2032mm.

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NGC7479 Propeller Galaxy, Mark Mabry