| The Spindle Galaxy | ||
|---|---|---|
|
||
This 10th magnitude edge-on spiral galaxy appears bright even in a 6" scope. It features a bright, nearly stellar core. Use averted vision to see the fainter outer parts, particularly on the long axis. The nearby MCG -1-26-21 is just barely visible in a 6" as a tiny smudge of light. This is one of many objects that look equally good in any size telescope. The only difference is in how easy it is to see the outer regions. For users of larger instruments (>16") looking for a challenge, it may be possible to glimpse the tiny galaxy just to the right (as pictured in the bottom image). I observed the Spindle in my 18-inch in February 2000. Here are my notes from that session: This was my first look at this great edge-on galaxy in a large-aperture instrument. It looked very nice, although it didn't reveal any detail I hadn't seen in smaller scopes. It appears as a thin, bright line that is slightly wider near the center. At the center is a bright, stellar core. The entire object is surrounded by a much larger, oval haze.
|
||
|
