Robert's Quartet

Robert's Quartet is a family of four very different galaxies, located at a distance of about 160 million light-years, close to the centre of the southern constellation of the Phoenix. Its members are NGC 87, NGC 88, NGC 89 and NGC 92, discovered by John Herschel in the 1830s.

NGC 87 (upper right) is an irregular galaxy similar to the satellites of our Milky Way, the Magellanic Clouds. NGC 88 (centre) is a spiral galaxy with an external diffuse envelope, most probably composed of gas. NGC 89 (lower middle) is another spiral galaxy with two large spiral arms. The largest member of the system, NGC 92 (left), is a spiral Sa galaxy with an unusual appearance. One of its arms, about 100,000 light-years long, has been distorted by interactions and contains a large quantity of dust.

Credit:

ESO

About the Image

Id:eso0535a
Type:Observation
Release date:4 November 2005
Related releases:eso0535
Size:1825 x 1688 px

About the Object

Name:NGC 87, NGC 88, NGC 89, NGC 92
Type:Local Universe : Galaxy
Distance:150 million light years
Constellation:Phoenix
Category:Galaxies

Image Formats

Large JPEG
1.6 MB
Screensize JPEG
109.8 KB

Wallpapers

1024x768
158.2 KB
1280x1024
328.6 KB
1600x1200
671.9 KB
1920x1200
991.2 KB
2048x1536
1.3 MB

Coordinates

Position (RA):0 21 22.07
Position (Dec):-48° 38' 33.78"
Field of view:6.11 x 5.65 arcminutes
Orientation:North is 1.6° right of vertical

Colours & filters

BandWavelengthTelescope
Optical
B
440 nmVery Large Telescope
FORS2
Optical
V
557 nmVery Large Telescope
FORS2
Optical
R
655 nmVery Large Telescope
FORS2
Infrared
I
768 nmVery Large Telescope
FORS2