NGC 5395 and 5394/Arp 84 – interacting galaxies in Canes Venatici:
Went to this one after a spotty start to the evening. Working on a longer-term project that didn’t begin well, but now I think I’m properly oriented after a couple hours on it. Looked away from it for a fresh observation - this one - to get reset.
Arp 84 consists of two spiral galaxies interacting and distorting one another around 160 million light years out. 5395 is much the larger of the two and is nearly face on. Its smaller companion 5394 is distorting 5395’s core, stretching it out along a north-south axis. 5394’s arms are distorted but curiously show no sign of ongoing star formation.
Observing: Arp 84 was seen right away as an indistinct smudge that gave away its more detailed shape in exchange for time spent on it. The object floats in a fairly sparse starfield, with a bright pair to the southwest edge of the FOV and a steady near-threshold star to the south. Arp 84 was easily held in direct vision, especially the brighter highlights and overall extension and shape. First seen at 145x with the 21mm, the object seemed to like the higher magnification of 235x with the 13mm. Details were confirmed by the 8mm at 381x, but nothing more than 235x showed and with seeing being quite poor the image was getting mushy. The lower magnification also allowed me to sneak the bright pair of stars to the SW into view.
5395 is oriented almost N-S and presents as a 3:1 oval once the fainter portions of the halo were seen. The core is asymmetrical, appearing as a bright elongated area in the southern half of the halo. A slightly brighter nucleus occasionally was seen. The northern half of the halo stretches towards the companion galaxy but doesn’t quite reach it.
5394’s core appeared brighter and more concentrated than that of 5395. The surrounding halo and faint arms were not immediately apparent but revealed themselves over time and with the usual tricks to stimulate AV. The arm that serves as a connecting bridge took time to smoke out and was detected as much by the darker area above it as the arm itself. The other arm to the north of the core was first seen as an amorphous hazy area that later resolved into a curve from the north to nearly west. Much as with the other arm, its shape was helped by a darker area between it and the core.
With poor seeing this was very much a “trust your eyes” experience and a reward for patience.
Sketching: white pastel pencils and white pastel powder on Bachmore 92 lb. black multimedia paper. 5395’s basic shape was drawn with a #2 Filbert brush. Everything else was done with the 12/0 mini angular.
Thanks for looking!
-b
Edited by bphaneuf, 29 March 2024 - 10:00 PM.
