Celestial hemisphere:  Southern  ·  Constellation: Corvus (Crv)  ·  Contains:  Antennae  ·  Antennae Galaxies  ·  HD104456  ·  HD104496  ·  NGC 4038  ·  NGC 4039
NGC 4038 & 4039, the Antennae Galaxies, Jeff Weiss
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NGC 4038 & 4039, the Antennae Galaxies

NGC 4038 & 4039, the Antennae Galaxies, Jeff Weiss
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NGC 4038 & 4039, the Antennae Galaxies

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Description

This is a 15.2h LRGB image of NGC 4038 and NGC 4039, also known as the Antennae Galaxies (Arp 244). They are a pair of interacting galaxies about 45 million light years away in the constellation Corvus. The object gets its nickname of the Antennae Galaxies from the two long trails of stars, gas, and dust ejected from the galaxies as a result of the collision. This target has been suggested to show the likely future of our own galaxy as it eventually collides with the Andromeda galaxy. As is clearly visible in the image, the two galaxies are currently undergoing a strong phase of starburst activity.

The small edge-on spiral galaxy towards the upper left corner of the image is the 16.4 magnitude galaxy PGC 37910.

The LRGB  data were collected by DeepSkyWest in Chile in April-July 2022.  I have used the new PI Generalized Hyperbolic Stretch process and only RGB stars here.  PixInsight 1.8.9-1 and Photoshop CS 6 were used.

FLI LRGB 8mm filters: L:24x600s, R: 26x600s, G: 17x600, B: 24x600s. Total Exposure: 15.2 hrs

Rev G (12/23/22): Used BXT on nonlinear to reduce halos and further reduce stars.  Didn't touch the galaxies.

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  • NGC 4038 & 4039, the Antennae Galaxies, Jeff Weiss
    Original
  • NGC 4038 & 4039, the Antennae Galaxies, Jeff Weiss
    H
  • Final
    NGC 4038 & 4039, the Antennae Galaxies, Jeff Weiss
    I

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NGC 4038 & 4039, the Antennae Galaxies, Jeff Weiss