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Catalogue and alternative designations

NGC 4038 and NGC 4039, The Antennae Galaxies

Type Interacting Galaxies
Position 12 01.9, -18 53
Constellation Corvus
Camera and Telescope STL6303E and 31.75 cm Ritchey Chretien
Focal Ratio F9
Exposure Details LRGB 190:50:50:60.  Luminance unbinned, Colours binned 2x2 with Astrodon series 2 filters
Description This is a much studied interacting pair of galaxies that at magnitude 10.5  is easily seen in relatively small telescopes.  They are called the Antennae galaxies because the tidal tail thrown out by the collision resembles the antennae of an insect.