Galaxy Group in Andromeda
The tight group of galaxies in the center of this image is called the Fath galaxy cluster, after the astronomer Edward Arthur Fath (1880-1959). In the early years of the 20th century, Fath was one of the first astronomers to find evidence (using spectroscopy) that galaxies are immense collections of stars at vast distances.
The Fath group is the central region of a larger galaxy cluster, Abell 262. Some of the many galaxies in this cluster are visible across the image.
Roll over the image to identify nine galaxies from the New General Catalog (N) and a few from the Principal Galaxy Catalog (P).
NGC 708:
| Magnitude | 12.8 |
| Apparent Size | 3.0' x 2.5' |
| Distance (light yrs) | 260 million |
| Right Ascension | 1:52.8 |
| Declination | +36 09 |
| Field of View | 31' x 23' |
Image details: Exposure times of 158 minutes luminance and 30 minutes each of red, green and blue, taken with an SBIG STF-8300M imager and a 14" Meade LX850 telescope at f/5.5.
November 2023