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The Bubble Galaxy

NGC 3521

Telescope : Planewave CDK 24

Camera : Moravian C5A-100

Mount : Planewave L-600

Focal length : 3974mm

Fov : 38 x 29 arcmins

Image Scale : 0.39 arcsec/pixel

Observatory : Obstech Chile

Filters: Chroma

L 101x300secs

R 102x180s G 102x180s B 102x180s

Ha 101x300s

Integration: 28h43m

RA: 11h 5m 48s

Dec :  +0° 2 10

cdk 600

NGC 3521, also known as the Bubble Galaxy, is a fascinating spiral galaxy located about 40 million light-years away from Earth in the constellation Leo. A Flocculent spiral, unlike some galaxies with grand, winding arms, NGC 3521 has shorter, irregular arms with patches of star-forming regions scattered throughout. This "woolly" appearance gives it the nickname "Bubble Galaxy." Surrounding the galaxy is a faint, bubble-like structure thought to be formed by debris and stars ripped from smaller galaxies by NGC 3521's gravity. While faint, NGC 3521 has a hint of a central bar structure and a weak inner ring, adding to its complexity.

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