About the Hockey Stick Galaxy
The Hockey Stick Galaxy, also known as IC 4051, is a barred spiral galaxy located in the constellation of Cepheus. It was discovered in 1917 by the American astronomer Harlow Shapley and is located approximately 200 million light-years away from Earth. The galaxy got its nickname due to its distinctive shape, which resembles a hockey stick.
IC 4051 is considered to be one of the most peculiar galaxies in the universe due to its unique shape. The elongated shape is due to the alignment of stars and gas in the central bar of the galaxy, which has caused the spiral arms to appear bent and twisted. This gives the galaxy an unusual appearance that sets it apart from other galaxies in the universe.
The Hockey Stick Galaxy is an active galaxy, meaning that it has a central black hole that is actively consuming matter and releasing energy. This active center of the galaxy is thought to be responsible for the peculiar shape of the galaxy, as the black hole’s gravitational pull can distort the alignment of stars and gas. In addition, the presence of a central black hole in the Hockey Stick Galaxy has also been associated with a higher rate of star formation, making it a unique and fascinating object to study.
Capture Details
Imaging Telescopes: Celestron EdgeHD 9.25″
Imaging Cameras: QHY268 C
Mounts : Celestron CGX
Accessories: QHY Polemaster · Celestron .7x Focal Reducer
Software: NINA – Nighttime Imaging ‘N’ Astronomy Guiding Telescopes: Orion 50mm Guidescope
Guiding Cameras: Orion StarShoot AutoGuider
Star Map
