45 minute exposure using Fuji Super HG II 400 film.
5" f/5 refractor, prime focus.
NGC 1316 is a is a large and bright eliptical galaxy in Fornax. It is easily visible in a 6" telescope. Two other moderately bright galaxies are also visible in the image. Just above NGC 1316 is the 11.9 magnitude NGC 1317, while further above is NGC 1326. (Magnitude 11.4) Both of these galaxies are also visible in a 6" telescope.
NGC 1316 is one of the brightest members of the Fornax cluster of galaxies. This is a group of galaxies about the same distance of the Virgo cluster, but on the opposite side of the sky. Galaxies in this cluster have been a major target of the Hubble Space telescope in an effort to refine the value of the Hubble Constant. The cluster is centred on the gaint ellipitical galaxy NGC 1399. In this region it is possible to fit 9 bright galaxies in a 1 degree field. Another prominent member of this cluster is the magnificent barred spiral NGC 1365. In the photograph below, NGC 1316 is the bright galaxy to the lower right, just below the satelite trail. NGC 1365 is a short distance up from NGC 1316. At the resolution of this image, the spiral arms can just be made out. NGC 1399 and the centre of the cluster, appear almost star-like in this image a short distance above and slightly left of NGC 1365.
The cluster is centred about 12 degrees east and a little north od the 2nd magnitude star Acamar, and is easily located by the triangle of 3rd magnitude stars, g and h eridani, and SAO 194551. These stars are visible in the image above near the top of the image, with the satelite trail cutting through it, and passing very close to h eridani.