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NGC4712 NGC4725 NGC4747 galaxies


M94 galaxy

Object name
NGC4712 NGC4725 NGC4747 galaxies

Constellation: Coma Berenices
Distances:
NGC4712: 200 million light years
NGC4725: 40 million light years
NGC4747: 35 million light years

Imaged by Jean-Yves Beninger from Alqueva Dark Sky, Portugal
On 28 March 2025

Equipment:
Astro-Physics Mach1
Astro-Physics AP130 Starfire EDF with 2.7" field flattener 67PF562, 819mm
Camera Zwo ASI 2600MM pixel size 3.76ยต
Filters L, R, G, B

LRGB image

Description:

The small blue galaxy at the top is NGC 4712, a distant spiral galaxy about 200 million light-years away in the constellation Coma Berenices. It has a bright core and faint, loosely wound arms.

The largest galaxy in the middle is NGC 4725,a unique barred spiral galaxy about 40 million light-years away. What makes it special is that it has only one spiral arm, unlike most spiral galaxies which have two or more. This rare feature may be the result of past interactions with nearby galaxies.

The galaxy at the bottom, NGC 4747 is a peculiar barred spiral galaxy located about 35 million light-years away. It is known for its tidal tails, long streams of stars, caused by a gravitational interaction with the nearby galaxy NGC 4725. This interaction likely occurred around 320 million years ago.