This
Messier Object, also known as NGC 4569, is a Seyfert spiral galaxy located 55 million light years away in the constellation of Virgo at a declination of +13 degrees. It is a magnitude 9.5 galaxy which spans 10 arc-minutes in our apparent view. This corresponds to a large diameter of 150,000 light years. M90 is the 62nd brightest galaxy in the night sky.
Because of the lack of blue star clusters in the outer disk, this galaxy has been classified as the prototype of an anemic galaxy. The term "anemic galaxy" was invented to classify galaxies that are in-between the classic gas-rich star-forming spiral galaxies and the gas-poor, inactive lenticular galaxies.
The near side of the disk appears to be to the right in our view, since the arms and dusts are brighter with more detail on that side. The dust lane pattern in the inner disk is fascinating, appearing very discontinuous.
At the top of the image is the irregular galaxy IC 3583, much closer to us at 30 million light years away. This galaxy is only 25,000 light years in diameter.
These 2 galaxies are included in the Arp catalog as Arp 76. Neither galaxy appears disturbed, nor is there evidence of star streams. Although Dr. Arp thought that IC 3583 is a companion, neither the distance data or the visual appearance suggests that these 2 galaxies are interacting.
Comments