Observe edge-on and face-on galaxies | Astronomy.com – Astronomy Magazine

Section 4

Our final section encompasses parts of Canes Venatici, Coma Berenices, and Virgo.

For a whale of a view, slide about 3.5 east-northeast of NGC 4414 to NGC 4631. Popularly known as the Whale Galaxy, this 9th-magnitude tapered monolith (oriented roughly east to west) is replete with dark vapors in a delicate embrace. Star clumps pepper the 15'-long disk like snowballs on the side of a house. For a triple treat, check out NGC 4627, a magnitude 12.5 dwarf elliptical galaxy 3' to the north, and its equally slender partner, the Hockey Stick (NGC 4656/7), a magnitude 10.5 edge-on barred spiral 30' to the southeast.

Next is a different sort of pinwheel. NGC 4725 is a peculiar one-armed spiral a transition system between a normal spiral and a barred spiral that forms one of the most complete rings of any galaxy known. To find this magnitude 9.5 gem, look 2 south and slightly west of 31 Com, which lies near the North Galactic Pole. Through a 4-inch scope, the galaxys inner region displays a bar that connects a bright, broken inner ring surrounded by a fainter lens of light.

To find our next treat, travel westward to a point 2 due east of 17 Com. There, youll find the Needle Galaxy (NGC 4565). This magnitude 9.5 wafer of light has two 8'-long threads of light extending from the galaxys slightly swollen belly like silk from a spiders abdomen. A 4-inch telescope at high power will resolve NGC 4565s classic dark lane, which cleanly divides the galaxys bright hub into two distinct ovals.

The last object is the Lost Galaxy (NGC 4535). While relatively bright (magnitude 10.5), this barred spiral is of low surface brightness, so its a challenge to small-scope observers. The 7'-long glow lies 2 northwest of 31 Vir and, in a 4-inch scope, shines as a circular patch of ill-defined light. Views through 12-inch and larger scopes bring out the spirals main, S-shaped arms within what I describe as extragalactic ectoplasm.

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Observe edge-on and face-on galaxies | Astronomy.com - Astronomy Magazine