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Spindle Galaxy (NGC 3115)
lenticular galaxy in Sextans
The Spindle Galaxy is a lenticular galaxy seen edge-on, a smooth, bright spindle with a sharp edge and no spiral arms. Because it has so little structure, it is easy to process, and it is bright enough to show well from modest skies. It sits in the faint constellation Sextans, away from other bright targets.
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// Key facts
- Catalog
- NGC 3115
- Also known as
- C 53, Caldwell 53
- Type
- lenticular galaxy
- Constellation
- Sextans
- Size
- 8′ across
- Brightness
- Magnitude 8.9
- Distance
- about 32 million light-years
- Peak month (any location)
- Feb
- Typical prime months
- Dec to May
- Difficulty
- Beginner
- Filter
- No filter (broadband); a light-pollution filter is optional
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How to image Spindle Galaxy
- At about 8 arcminutes, use 1,000 to 2,000 mm for a framing that fills a good part of the frame.
- The core is bright and can clip; keep exposures moderate and check the histogram.
- It is best placed in late winter and spring evenings.
Framing: what focal length?
NGC 3115 is small, so a "60% of the frame" focal length would be impractical. Here is how much of an APS-C frame it covers at common long focal lengths; expect to crop.
| Focal length | Share of the frame width |
|---|---|
| 1,000 mm | about 10% |
| 2,000 mm | about 20% |
| 3,000 mm | about 30% |
How high does it climb from your latitude?
The highest point NGC 3115 reaches in the sky. Above about 60° is excellent, 30° to 60° is workable, and under 30° you are looking through a lot of air.
| Latitude | Highest point | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 55°N (Scotland, Alaska) | 27° | Stays low |
| 45°N (Minneapolis, Milan) | 37° | Workable |
| 35°N (Los Angeles, Tokyo) | 47° | Workable |
| 25°N (Miami, Cairo) | 57° | Workable |
| 35°S (Sydney, Santiago) | 63° | High in the sky |
Also worth imaging
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