Interacting galaxies

[Hughsie]

Currently I am touring Canes Venatici and the galaxies it has to offer but I am trying to avoid the ‘usual’ candidates.

First up is NGC4490 & NGC4485 aka the Cocoon Galaxy. This is approximately 25 million light years away and shows the two galaxies interacting as they slowly merge.

Next is another pair of interacting galaxies, this time NGC5395 & NGC5394 aka the Heron Galaxy. These two are 160 million light years away.

Both were first observed by William Herschel about a year apart. In fact the Heron Galaxy was discovered on 16 May 1787 so probably a  clear night for Ye Olde Astrophotographers and their Box Brownies.

 

 

 

Edited April 20, 2021 by Hughsie
sharpened 4490 & reprocessed 5395

[Mr Thingy]

Fantastic images. Nice to see such distant objects.

I see from your images that you are N Essex, which is same neck of the woods as me - I'm in S Suffolk on the border. 

[Hughsie]

7 minutes ago, Mr Thingy said:

Fantastic images. Nice to see such distant objects.

I see from your images that you are N Essex, which is same neck of the woods as me - I'm in S Suffolk on the border. 

Thank you. Not too far from the border with Suffolk, in fact I can see it from here!