NGC1530

NGC1530 is a barred spiral galaxy in the direction of the Constellation Camelopardalis at a distance of over 100 Million Light-Years. One of the largest barred spirals in the northern sky, and has one of the strongest bars ever observed. The dust lanes turn into a spiral structure near the nucleus, and recent star formation sites are distributed throughout the bar. Along the bar, there is abundant molecular gas associated with the bar dust lanes. Near the nucleus are strong shock fronts, and a nuclear ring. The strongest shock front are perpendicular to the bar. NGC1530 is most studied for mass inflow data, supposedly driven by the strong bar.

Object: NGC1530
Distance: Over 100 Million Light-Years
Date: December 2009
Place: Fort Davis, TX
Exposure Details: LRGB:540:180:190:240 unbinned

Processing: MaxIm DL, CCDInspector, CCDStack,
RegiStar, Photoshop CS3

Optics: 12.5" RCOS Truss
Focal Length: 2808 @ f9
Mount: Paramount ME Robotic
Camera: SBIG STL6303E
Focuser: RCOS
Guiding: Off-Axis with SBIG Guide Camera
Filters: Tru-Balance Gen II LRGB 2"