NGC 5350 - Galaxy Group
The group of galaxies around NGC 5350 is also known as "HCG 68" and is located at a distance of approximately 107 million light-years in the
constellation of the Hunting Dogs (CVn). The group includes the galaxies NGC 5350/53/54/55/58, three of which will now be described in a little more
detail.
- NGC 5350: This is a barred spiral of the Hubble Type "SBbc" with an apparent brightness of 11.6mag and a size of 3x2 arcminutes. The true
diameter is given as 100,000 light-years - so the galaxy is about the same size as our Milky Way. The absolute magnitude can be calculated as
M= -21.0mag, which corresponds to a luminosity of 20 billion suns.
- NGC 5353: This lenticular galaxy of type "S0" is around 70,000 light-years across and has an apparent brightness of 11.1mag, making it the
brightest galaxy in "HCG 68". Its luminosity corresponds to 35 billion suns.
- NGC 5354: The 12.3mag bright lenticular galaxy is located directly next to NGC 5353, but only forms an optical pair with it, as it lies in the
background of the galaxy group at a distance of 119 million light-years.
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The galaxy group around NGC 5350 offers a beautiful view in my 20" f/3 Dobsonian, which is also due to the fact, that there are three very bright
stars in the immediate vicinity - including HD 121197, an orange shining giant star with a magnitude of 6.4mag. A brighter double star can also be found
to the north of the group.
NGC 5350 appears slightly oval with a smaller central area, in the center of which a faint sN can be found. The spiral arms are unfortunately not
visible. NGC 5353 is clearly elongated with an elongation of 3:1. It appears the brightest of all galaxies and has a bright core area with a stellar
nucleus. At the time of observation (May 2019), a supernova was shining in the galaxy (see blue arrow). Right next to it there is NGC 5354, which
appears slightly oval with an elongation of 1.5:1. NGC 5355, on the other hand, appeared roundish at 270x with a stellar nucleus, while NGC 5358
appeared slightly oval with a brighter center, but no sN.
In summary, for me one of the most beautiful galaxy groups in the northern sky, which is always worth a visit. :)
