Galaxies
NGC 1316 in Fornax
This lenticular galaxy is the result of several galaxy mergers, including involving a spiral galaxy. The last merger is thought to have occurred 3 billion years ago and unusually-shaped dust lanes can be seen.
The galaxy is approximately 60 million lightyears away and 50,000 lightyears in diameter, so around half the size of our galaxy. The smaller spiral NGC 1317 to the left, is gravitationally-associated with the larger NGC 1316.
This LRGB image is the result of 1h40m of remote data capture from New South Wales, over three evenings in March 2022, using a 17-inch Planewave CDK reflector and FLI Proline PL 16803 camera.
Date: 15/03/2022
Photographer: Graham Wilcock
