NGC 5908


Combination of 10, 3 minute exposures, SBIG ST9XE CCD.
16" f/10 schmidt-casegrain telescope with an f/6.3 focal reducer.

On the border between Draco and Bootes lie a pair of 12th magnitude galaxies NGC 5905 and NGC 5908. As can be seen in the image, NGC 5905 is a face-on barred spiral while NGC 5908 is an edge-on spiral. Although NGC 5905 is slightly brighter, I find that NGC 5908 is easier to observe due to tis higher surface brightness. However, no trace of the dark dust lane was visible in a 10" telescope.


Combination of 20, 3 minute images unfiltered.
SBIG STL-1001E CCD. 20" f/6.8 Dall-Kirkham cassegrain telescope at prime focus.

In the image, NGC 5905 appears to be somewhat distorted. I wonder if at some time in the past it had a close encounter with NGC 5908.