Equipment
Telescope
Planewave CDK1000
Camera
FLI ML16803
Mount
Planewave 1000 Series Gimbal
Filters
Chroma Blue 2″
Chroma Green 2″
Chroma Lum 50 mm
Chroma Red 2″
Software
Adobe Photoshop
Pleiades Astrophoto PixInsight
This Galaxy cluster has fascinated me for a long time and I am happy to be able to process it, thanks to Mike Selby at throughlightandtime.com for the amazing data!
The three main galaxies – NGC 7173 , NCG 7174 and NGC 7176 are part of the Hickson Compact Group 90, named after astronomer Paul Hickson, who first catalogued these small clusters of galaxies in the 1980s. NGC 7173 and NGC 7176 appear to be smooth, normal elliptical galaxies without much gas and dust. But NGC 7174 is a mangled spiral galaxy, barely clinging to independent existence as it is ripped apart by its neighbors. Streams of dust and star bridges are apparent as the galaxy is ripped apart. When the process is complete only the two elliptical galaxies NGC 7173 and 7176 will remain. The strong tidal interaction surging through the galaxies has dragged a significant number of stars away from their home galaxies. These stars are now spread out, forming a tenuous luminous component in the galaxy group.
I would suggest looking at this image in full resolution to see the numerous background galaxies, I tried to preserve their details as well! Just an amazing region!