H-NGC1407
Galaxy in Eridanus
About
A round elliptical galaxy in Eridanus, about 76 million light-years away and the brightest member of its galaxy group. Its core is old and holds a black hole estimated at over a billion solar masses. William Herschel found it in 1785.
Imaging tips
- Too small to frame: it spans about 5′, so it needs a long focal length and a fine pixel scale to show more than a smooth glow.
- Surface brightness is about 21.6 mag/arcsec², moderately faint, so plan for several hours of integration.
- NGC 1400, the group's second-brightest galaxy, sits about 11.8′ away, just outside a very tight frame; a slightly wider field catches both.
- Altitude is the catch: it stays below about 21° from 50°N and 36° from 35°N. Best in November and December.
Facts
- Size
- 5′ × 4′
- Magnitude
- 9.7
- Coordinates
- RA 3h 40.1m, Dec −18° 35′
- Framing, APS-C
- longer than 4000 mm
- Framing, full frame
- longer than 4000 mm
- Best months
- Nov, Dec
- Peak altitude
- 21° from 50°N, 36° from 35°N