NGC 672 (middle, 10.7 mag) and IC 1727 (right, 11.4 mag) are two interacting galaxies at a distance of about 20 million light years. The real distance between the two galaxies is less then 100'000 light-years, roughtly their own diameter. Even that the galaxies are not member of the "Local Group", their proximity allows detailed studies of formation along a nearby dark matter filament.
[Adi Zintrin and Noah Brosch 2008]
Date: 12/27/2011
Size:
Image Data
Telescope: RCOS 14.5" f/8
Mount: ASA DDM85
Detector: Apogee U16M
Filters: Astrodon Gen 2
Exposures: L:R:G:B 660:200:200:220 min (20 min subs)
Observatory: ROSA, France