Pair of Galaxies NGC 7253A/B (Arp 278)

NGC 7253A/B: Pair of galaxies in Pegasus; 500 mm Cassegrain f/7.2; SBIG STL11K; 280-40-40-40 min LRGB; Bernese Highlands; © 2015 Radek Chromik

History

The galaxy NGC 7253 was visually discovered on 9th September 1863 by the German astronomer Albert Marth with a 48 inch reflecting telescope. [277] According to the description «very faint, rather elongated» in John LE Dreyer's «New General Catalogue of Nebulae and Clusters of Stars» [313] he did not seem to have recognized both galaxies at that time, especially since the extragalactic nature of these nebulae was still completely unknown at that time.

Halton Arp divided his «Atlas of Peculiar Galaxies», published in 1966, into groups based on purely morphological criteria. The pair of galaxies here received the designation Arp 278 (APG 278) as a pair of interacting galaxies. [199]

Physical Properties

Revised+Historic NGC/IC, Version 22/9, © Dr. Wolfgang Steinicke [277]
NameRADecTypebMagvMagB-VSBDimPAzD(z)MDDreyer DescriptionIdentification, Remarks
NGC 7253 A22 19 27.3+29 23 49Gx (SBc)13.913.20.713.41.7 × 0.81160.01524164.3865.750vF, pEUGC 11984, MCG 5-52-10, VV 242, Arp 278, KCPG 566A, CGCG 494-14
NGC 7253 B22 19 30.0+29 23 16Gx (Sc)15.014.30.713.91.6 × 0.5710.01498763.3043.280vF, pEUGC 11985, MCG 5-52-11, VV 242, Arp 278, KCPG 566B, CGCG 494-14

Finder Chart

The galaxy pair NGC 7253A/B is located in the constellation Pegasus. The best observation time is June to November, when it is highest at night.

Finder Chart Pair of Galaxies NGC 7253A/B (Arp 278)
Pair of Galaxies NGC 7253A/B (Arp 278) in constellation Pegasus. Charts created using SkySafari 6 Pro and STScI Digitized Sky Survey. Limiting magnitudes: Constellation chart ~6.5 mag, DSS2 close-ups ~20 mag. [149, 160]

Visual Observation

Description pending ...

More Objects Nearby (±15°)

References