Object of the Season (Winter 2020)
Galaxy trio NGC 160, NGC 169 and IC 1559 in Andromeda
NGC 160 was discovered by Herschel on 5 December 1785. 4.2' north is a 7.2 magnitude star. However, he missed the pair NGC 169/IC 1559, only 11' east. The double galaxy was discovered by R. J. Mitchell on 18 September 1857 with the 72-inch reflector at Birr Castle. The components are only 23" apart; 3.8' northeast is a 6.2 mag star, which influences the observation.
- Name
- NGC 160
- Position (2000)
- 00 36 04.1 +23 57 29 (And)
- Type
- S0-a
- Visual Magnitude
- 12.7
- Size
- 2.3' × 1.2' (PA 45°)
- Distance
- 74 Mpc
- Other Designations
- III 476, h 173, GC 79, UGC 356, MCG 4-2-33, CGCG 479-43, PGC 2154
- Name
- NGC 169
- Position (2000)
- 00 36 51.7 +23 59 29 (And)
- Type
- Sb
- Visual Magnitude
- 12.4
- Size
- 2.6' × 0.6' (PA 88°)
- Distance
- 65 Mpc
- Other Designations
- GC 82, UGC 365, MCG +04-02-035, CGCG 479-044, PGC 2202, Arp 282, KPG 13A
- Name
- IC 1559
- Position (2000)
- 00 36 52.2 +23 59 06 (And)
- Type
- S0-a
- Visual Magnitude
- 14.0
- Size
- 0.4' × 0.3' (PA 10°)
- Distance
- 65 Mpc
- Other Designations
- NGC 169A, MCG 4-2-34, CGCG 479-44, PGC 2201, Mrk 341, Arp 282, KPG 13A
Results of the observations of NGC 160, NGC 169 and IC 1559 will be published in DSO 187.
Wolfgang Steinicke - Nebulae and Clusters Section Director
