NGC 5643

 SPIRAL GALAXY IN LUPUS (THE WOLF)  

(Image centered at: ra 14 h:34 m / dec - 44º 16')

April 2022, Sarandi, Gualeguayachu, Entre Rios, Argentina

DATA

TYPE: Spiral Galaxy

APPARENT DIAMETER: 4,7 x 4,2 arc minute

VISUAL BRIGHTNESS: 10,2

DISTANCE: 60 million light years 

IMAGE INFORMATION1

INSTRUMENT: 8" ORION OPTICS UK (Ultra Grade Optics) w/Televue Paracorr working at at f5,75

CAMERA: QSI 583 WS

MOUNT: SKY WATCHER NEQ6

FILTERS: Baader LRGB Set Ha Astronomik 6 nm

SKY CONDITIONS: rural skies - very humid night

EXPOSURES: LRGB (60,30,30,30)

OBJECT DESCRIPTION AND IMAGE SESSION

NGC 5643 is an intermediate spiral galaxy. Intermediate because it is between the classification of a barred and unbarred spiral galaxy. The nucleus has an intense activity in the centre where vast amounts of glowing gas are thought to be falling into a central massive black hole. It has a two well defined symmetric arms that spans 100 thousands light years away. NGC 5643 has been home of two supernovae:  SN 2013aa and SN 2017cbv.  The Galaxy is visible near the Milky Way, which is not so frequent. Normally galactic dust makes it impossible to look through. It is located 15 degrees from the galactic plane and it is seen nearly face on, at an inclination of 27 degrees approximately.

NGC 5643 was first reported by Scottish astronomer James Dunlop on May the 10th of 1826 with a 9 inch reflector. NGC 5643 was also reported by John Herschel