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Astrobin Debut Object is a pair of galaxies located 280 million light years away in the constellation of Sextans at a declination of +3 degrees. This galaxy was classified by Dr. Arp into the category of Double Galaxies. Both galaxies show significant disturbance.
The bottom galaxy is IC 563. This magnitude 15 galaxy is 90,000 light years in diameter. The arms of this smaller galaxy appear to be twisted around like a pretzel, and a dark dust area appears above the core.
The top galaxy is IC 564. This magnitude 14 galaxy is much larger at 160,000 light years in diameter. An interesting star cloud is seen to the right of the core.
Two other interesting galaxies are seen in this image. The faint galaxy at lower right is UGC 5224. This galaxy is much closer at 90 million light years away and is 50,000 light years in diameter. The structure is hard to see but it appears to be a barred spiral ring galaxy, with strong ansae at each end of the bar. Several “companion” galaxies are seen to the left, but these are larger distant galaxies and not true companions.
At upper right is IC 561. This spiral ring galaxy is a similar distance as Arp 303, at 270 million light years away, and is also about 50,000 light years in diameter.
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