NGC 7331

NGC 7331: NGC 7331 is the dominant member in what is also known as the Deer Lick Group. This relatively close grouping is towards the constellation Pegasus. It is one of the brighter galaxies "missed" in Messier's catalog. At one time, it was thought the Milky Way may look like this galaxy, but more recent measurements suggest more of a bar shape for our galaxy.

NGC: 7331
Other Catalogs: Caldwell 30
Right Ascension: 22h 37m
Declination: 34° 25'
Apparent Magnitude: 10.4

Date: November 2012
Equipment:
Telescope: Meade 16" Schmidt Cassegrain with f6.3 reducer
Camera: SBIG ST-10XE
Guiding: AO-8

Exposure:
L: 8x10 minute subframes binned 1x1.
R: 13x5 minute subframes binned 2x2.
G: 12x5 minute subframes binned 2x2.
B: 11x5 minute subframes binned 2x2.

Processing Notes: Data acquisition with CCDSoft. Reduction, and alignment with CCDStack. Subs combined in Sigma Combine. RGB combined in CCDStack with a ratio of 1:1.06:1.85 to compensate for atmospheric extinction. L and RGB images stretched and tweaked separately in Photoshop and combined with layers. Significant smoothing and increase in color saturation on RGB and repair of several overbloomed stars in the L image
Scale: ~.53"/pixel

Links to images of this object on other sites:
http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap091024.html
http://panther-observatory.com/gallery/deepsky/doc/NGC7331_cass.htm
http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap081022.html

Additional Comments: This was one of the first "totally-remote" images now that internet access is available at the observatory.
An image of NGC7331 taken at the FLC Observatory in 2008 can be found here: http://www.fortlewis.edu/observatory/image_detail.asp?ID=132

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