NGC 3521 - the Bubble Galaxy

Image Title: NGC 3521 - the Bubble Galaxy

Copyright: Herbert Walter

Date image was taken: April 01, 2024

Location: IAS - Internationale Amateuersternwarte e.V. - Hakos Observatory, Namibia

Image Description and Details: NGC 3521 is a faint, active barred spiral galaxy with extensive star-forming regions of the Hubble type SBdc in the constellation Leo on the ecliptic. The galaxy has a soft, woolly appearance as it a member of a class of galaxies known as flocculent spirals.
Like other flocculent galaxies, NGC 3521 lacks the clearly defined, arcing structure to its spiral arms that shows up in galaxies such as Messier 101, which are called grand design spirals. In flocculent spirals, fluffy patches of stars and dust show up here and there throughout their discs. Sometimes the tufts of stars are arranged in a generally spiralling form, as with NGC 3521, but illuminated star-filled regions can also appear as short or discontinuous spiral arms.
About 30 percent of galaxies share NGC 3521's patchiness, while approximately 10 percent have their star-forming regions wound into grand design spirals. NGC 3521 is located almost 40 million light-years away. The British astronomer William Herschel discovered the object in 1784. Through backyard telescopes, NGC 3521 can have a glowing, rounded appearance, giving rise to its nickname, the Bubble Galaxy.

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Exposure L/R/G/B 347/85/85/85 x 120s
Total 22h 21min
Software PixInsight

Equipment Details: Mount 10Micron GM3000 HPS
Telescope IAS 10" Newton f/4.5
Camera QHY268M65
Filter Chroma LRGB

Name: Herbert Walter

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