NGC 1052 Group
Optics: |
Ritchey–Chrétien 20" F/8.2 (4166mm FL) |
Processing: |
PixInsight, Photoshop |
Camera: |
SBIG STXL-11000 with Adaptive Optics |
Date: |
September 2022 |
|
11 Megapixel (4008 x 2672 16-bit sensor) |
Location: |
Columbus, Texas |
Exposure: |
LRGB = 520:90:80:100 minutes |
Imager: |
Kent E. Biggs |
NGC 1052 is a massive
elliptical galaxy with recent estimates of its mass placing it
over 100 billion suns, all contained within about 120,000 light
years. At 63 million light years away it lies in the direction
of the constellation Cetus, the whale or sea monster. Light
collected in this image left NGC 1052 shortly after the
extinction event that killed our planet’s dinosaurs. Discovered
by William Herschel in 1785, NGC 1052 is the eponym of the
somewhat famous NGC 1052 Group that may also include galaxies
NGC 1042 and NGC 1047 in this image as well as many others not
visible (see annotations by hovering over the image). NGC 1052’s
triaxial elliptical shape (three axes of different radii) is a
very common one and distinguishes it from spiral galaxies like
NGC 1042, in that it has very little structure. Close to the
nucleus of NGC 1052 are jets of material traveling outward and
nearly the speed of light. They are not visible here, but what
is visible is an apparent jet of material in the lower part of
the image; it has been slightly overexposed in the annotation.
Within the astronomical community, NGC 1052 group became
more famous recently with the discovery of two very diffuse but
associated elliptical galaxies NGC 1052-DF2 and NGC 1052-DF4
which seem to have little to no dark matter. Dark matter is a
hypothetical form of matter we have never touched or examined
directly yet thought to make up about 85% of the universe. Dark
matter does not interact with electromagnetic fields so does not
reflect or emit light; therefore, it is very difficult to
detect. It does, however, seem follow the laws of gravity. For
example, NGC 1052 has the mass of 100 billion suns, yet
observations show within that same area, there is 4 times as
much matter, or 414 billion suns. We call it dark matter since
it cannot be detected directly with any telescope
instrumentation, but only by its gravitational influence. NGC
1052-DF2 and -DF4 (just outside the frame of this image) are now
famous for seeming to have little to no dark matter, which is
somewhat unusual and needs further investigation to better
understand them.
Also associated with the NGC 1052 group
is spiral galaxy NGC 1042 (hover over image to see annotation;
also see enlarged image below). It is a spiral galaxy nearly 26
times fainter than NGC 1052, yet still clearly visible with
great detail of blue color indicating star formation and red
emission nebulae. While it visually seems to be in the NGC 1052
group of galaxies, measurements of its distance range from 14 to
54 million light years, placing it significantly closer to us
than NGC 1052.
Other galaxies in this image such as NGC
1048, and most of the PGC objects are behind the NGC 1052 group
and much further away, perhaps as distant as 500 million light
years! Hover over the image to see enlargements of these
objects.
Finally, one odd object in this image is the
green star just right of and below center. Green stars in an
image usually indicated the color correction is incorrect since
there are no actual green stars in the universe. Our eyes, and
cameras imitating our eyes, never see green stars since star
colors only represent the peak output of light, say in the red
or blue part of the spectrum. Since green is smack dab in the
middle of the visible spectrum, stars that peak output in green
have also about equal amounts of blue and red output as well,
thereby they always appear white, not green to our eyes and
cameras. The fact that this star is very green is puzzling, and
a mystery which someday I may solve.
Stats for NGC 1052
with alternate name of MCG -1-7-34, IRAS 2386-828, and PGC 10175
are as follows: RA: 02h 41m 04.9s; Dec: -08° 15' 22"; Mag: 10.4
(V); B-V: +0.94; Size: 3.0'x2.4'; Class: E4; Inclination: 118°.