The SpLinter Galaxy - NGC 5907
About NGC 5907
NGC 5907, also known as the Knife Edge Galaxy or Splinter Galaxy, is a fascinating spiral galaxy located approximately 50 million light-years from Earth. Discovered by William Herschel in 1788, NGC 5907 has several intriguing characteristics:
Anomalously Low Metallicity: NGC 5907 has an unusually low metallicity and appears to be composed almost entirely of dwarf stars. It lacks detectable giant stars.
Warped Spiral: Long considered a prototypical example of a warped spiral galaxy in relative isolation, NGC 5907 challenges this view. An international team of astronomers discovered an extended tidal stream surrounding the galaxy, suggesting that gravitational perturbations induced by the stream progenitor may be the cause of the warp.
Supernova and Ultraluminous X-ray Source: NGC 5907 has hosted one observed supernova (SN 1940A) and contains an ultraluminous X-ray source.
This edge-on galaxy lies in the constellation Draco, near the star iota Draconis. It is part of the NGC 5866 Group of galaxies. NGC 5907's elongated shape and intriguing features make it a captivating object for astronomers and stargazers alike! 🌌✨
Photo Capture Info:
~ 1 hour each of Red, Green, Blue
2 hours of Luminance
Bias and Flats (No Darks)
(This really needs more time to make this a cleaner image)
Total Integration time: 1 hours, 49 minutes
Optical Equipment Used:
Baader RGB Filters, Chroma LoGlow Broadband Light Pollution Reduction Filter
Scope: Explore Scientific ED 127mm refractor
Apex ED 0.65x Reducer / Flattener
Camera: ZWO 2600mm
Guide scope: Agena Astro 60mm refractor
Guide camera: ZWO ASI120mm-S
Computerized Equipment and Software:
Mount: Losmandy G11G
Beelink Mini PC S Intel 11th Gen
Focuser: ZWO EAF (Electronically Assisted Focuser)
Filter Wheel: ZWO 7 Position
Pegasus Pocket Powerbox Micro
PixInsight for Processing
Here's how you can observe it with a telescope:
Locate the Constellation Draco:
NGC 5907 lies in the constellation Draco. Find the Big Dipper and the Little Dipper in the northern sky. The end star in the handle of the Little Dipper is our pole star, Polaris.
Use the end of the Little Dipper's cup stars (the two brightest) and look for the middle star in the handle of the Big Dipper. About halfway between them, you'll find a bright star in the constellation Draco.
Star Hop to NGC 5907:
From the bright star in Draco, hop to the next bright star away from the Dippers.
Continue a short hop (about 1/5th the distance you just traversed), and you'll be very close to NGC 5907.
Observing Tips:
NGC 5907 appears as a beautiful, shard-like needle in the sky. It is elongated in the northwest-southeast direction and roughly 9’x 1’in size. The central bulge is slightly brighter than the rest of the galaxy. Use moderate magnification to appreciate its elongated shape and thin edge-on appearance.
Equipment Suggestions:
NGC 5907 is visible in binoculars and small telescopes. Larger telescopes will reveal more details. Consider using a telescope with at least 4 inches of aperture for better resolution.
Galaxy-Hop to Nearby Objects:
All the galaxies in proximity to NGC 5907 are of about equal magnitude. If you find NGC 5907, you should be able to galaxy-hop to others nearby. Remember to observe from a dark location away from light pollution, and enjoy exploring this fascinating edge-on galaxy! 🌌✨
Learn more
Mythology:
Draco, the constellation of the Dragon, has fascinating connections in mythology. Let’s explore its rich background:
Guardian of the Golden Apples:
In Greek mythology, Draco represents Ladon, the dragon that guarded the golden apples in the gardens of the Hesperides. The golden apple tree was a wedding gift to Hera when she married Zeus. She planted it in her garden on Mount Atlas and tasked the Hesperides with its protection. To ensure that the Hesperides wouldn’t pick any apples, Hera placed the dragon Ladon around the tree.Heracles and the 12 Labors:
As part of his 12 labors, Heracles (Hercules) was assigned the task of stealing the golden apples from the tree. To reach the apples, Heracles had to slay the dragon Draco and secure the precious fruit.Other Associations:
Draco is also regarded as the dragon that guarded the Golden Fleece. Some versions of the myth describe Ladon as having a hundred heads, while others mention different parentage.Celestial Representation:
In the night sky, Draco is an elongated constellation, resembling a needle or shard. Its stars trace the form of the mythical dragon, forever immortalized among the stars.
Next time you gaze at the stars, remember the dragon that once guarded the golden apples—the celestial legacy of Draco! 🌌🐉
Learn more: constellation-guide.com | britannica.com | web.pa.msu.edu | sentinelmission.org
PixInsight Processing Details
WBPP used for calibrating, cosmetic correction, and stacking if Lights, Bias, and Flats and Drizzling.
GraXpert to remove gradients from each image.
BlurXterminator correct only R,G,B, L
RGB Channel Combination with... RGB images
Used SpectrophotometricCC in RGB mode to color correct everything
BlurXterminator on RGB image and L image
GraXpert on RGB Image and L image
Used SetiAstro's Statistical Stretch to get images into Linear state
Processing on the Luminance Channel
Removed Stars using StarXTerminator
NoiseXterminator @ 90
HDRMultiscaleTransform at level 9 to brighten the edges of the galaxy and enhance details
Used Histogram transformation to adjust the black point down.
LocalHistogramEqualization @ 125
LocalHistogramEqualization @ 185
MultiscaleLinearTransform with large values to Sharpen
Used Mike Cranfield's Image Blend script to combined the RGB and L images, adjusting the Highlighs and Midtones in Colour Blend mode.
Used ColorSaturation to boost overall colors of entire image
ICCProfileTransformation (Ready image for the Web)