Spiral galaxies in Virgo
This pair of interacting galaxies is known as the Butterfly Galaxies. They are members of the Virgo galaxy cluster. Astronomers have found that the sections of the two galaxies that are in contact are regions of new star formation, which makes sense because this is where gas and dust from the two galaxies are merging. The upper member of the pair is NGC 4567 and the lower is NGC 4568. Note that the predominant colors of these two galaxies are quite different (I don't know why).
Just below NGC 4568, a faint diagonal streak can be seen. This is the asteroid 745 Mauritia, which was passing by in the foreground as the exposures for this image were being taken.
To the north of the twins is another member of the Virgo cluster, NGC 4564.
NGC 4567:
| Magnitude | 11.2 |
| Apparent Size | 2.8' x 2.2' |
| Distance (light yrs) | 59 million |
| Right Ascension | 12:36.5 |
| Declination | +11 15 |
| Field of view | 29' x 22' |
Image details: Exposure times of 54 minutes luminance and 30 minutes each of red, green, and blue, taken with an SBIG ST-8300M imager and a 14" Meade LX850 telescope at f/6.
June 2019