NGC 7479: Spiral Galaxy (Pegasus) RA: 23h 05.0m / DEC: +12° 19'.3 Instrument: 10-inch Starfinder |
NGC 7479 is a galaxy which reveals detailed spiral structure when moderate aperture is applied. You'll find it by slewing about 3 degrees due south from 2.5 magnitude Markab, the star marking the southeast corner of the Great Square of Pegasus. My sketch is based on a 190X view in the 10-inch, f/4.5 Starfinder. 10.8 magnitude NGC 7479 appears 4'x3' in size. The central bar is visible as a bright feature running roughly north-south through a stellar nucleus. After several minutes observing, the graceful form of a spiral arm emerges from the southern tip of the disk. This arm loops back to the north, passing just west of a 13th magnitude GSC star. A second arm is glimpsed at the oppositen end of the galaxy. This arm curves east and south, barely avoiding a 12th magnitude GSC star. The brightest star in the field is 10.3 magnitude PPM 142157, stationed 10' to the southwest at the edge of the field. Another ten stars dot the field around NGC 7479, a gorgeous example of a barred spiral galaxy. |
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Revised: October 18, 2003 [WDF]