NGC 3226 & NGC 3227: Galaxy Pair (Leo) RA: 10h 23.5m / DEC: +19° 51'.9 Instrument: 10-inch Starfinder |
You'll find this interesting pair about 50' due east of 2.0 magnitude Algieba (Gamma Leonis), a star in the neck of the lion. The sketch at left renders their appearance in the 10-inch Starfinder Newtonian at 82X. NGC 3227 is elongated northwest-to-southeast across a 4'.0X1'.5 area. This Sb-type spiral has a visual magnitude of 10.3 and a radial velocity of +1145 km per second. NGC 3226 is seen near the northwest tip of NGC 3227. This 11.4 magnitude elliptical galaxy covers a 2'.0X1'.0 area. It has a radial velocity of +1322 km per second. The similar radial velocities indicates these galaxies are at the same distance from Earth. That they overlap hints at possible gravitational interaction. |
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