ASTRO: NGC 4274

NGC 4274 is an odd barred spiral in Coma Berenices about 50 to 60
million light-years distant by redshift. Other measurements put it much
closer or further but also average about 55 million light-years. If
correct it is likely a member of the Virgo Cluster. It is classed as
(R)SB(r)ab LINER. What drew my attention to it is the odd dust lane
that suddenly veers in toward the core of the galaxy. Dust lanes down a
bar are common but these don't also follow the spiral arm pattern. Also
they are usually rather weak compared to the dust lanes in the spiral
arms. This one is a narrow lane that seems to define the inner edge of
the spiral arms that form a ring-like structure getting strong as it
approaches the bar then suddenly veers across the bar and toward the
side of the core. The core is oval but at nearly right angles to the
bar with each end rather pointed. The dark lane runs to one of these
pointed ends. In IR light papers indicate there's an inner bar and ring
structure at nearly right angles to the large outer bar and ring. This
apparently is what is causing the bright core region to be misaligned
with the main bar.

As is often the case, in doing the annotated image I came up with a
galaxy not in NED even though hundreds of far fainter one are included.
It is noted with a question mark right (east) of NGC 4274.

Note my image is presented south at the top not north as I nearly always
orient my images. The galaxy just didn't look right "upside down". I
guess my brain wants the near side of a galaxy at the "bottom", at least
in this case.

14" LX200R @ f/10, L=4x10' RGB=2x10', STL-11000XM, Paramount ME

Rick
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