Galaxy Cluster in Hercules
Abell 2199 is one of several large and very distant galaxy clusters that are part of the Hercules galaxy supercluster. Most of the galaxies in Abell 2199 are estimated to be about 400 million light years away. The largest of this group by far is NGC 6166, the elliptical galaxy in the center of this image.
Rolling over the image identifies about 50 members of this cluster that are listed in the Principal Galaxies Catalog. However, many more galaxies are visible in this image, which can be seen more clearly by switching to the larger version. Based on their redshifts, some of these galaxies are in the distant background, and a few could be several billion light years away!
NGC 6166:
| Magnitude | 11.8 |
| Apparent Size | 2.2' x 1.7' |
| Distance (light yrs) | 410 million |
| Right Ascension | 16:28.8 |
| Declination | +39 33 |
| Field of View | 21' x 16' |
Image details: Exposure times of 56 minutes luminance and 20 minutes each of red, green and blue, taken with an SBIG ST-8300M imager and a 12" Meade telescope at f/10.