NGC 3115 – Edge-on Spiral Galaxy in Sextans

Telescope: Meade 12” LX850 ACF @ f/8, Orion Atlas EQ-G

Camera: ZWO ASI071 MC Pro, -10C, Gain 200

Filter: Orion Imaging Skyglow Filter

Guide scope: Astro-Tech 60mm, ASI290MM Mini, PHD2

Exposure: 24x240sec, saved as FITS

Darks: 32x240s, saved as FITS

Flats: 32×0.2sec, Tee shirt flats taken at dusk

Average Light Pollution: Red zone, Bortle 8, poor transparency, haze and clouds

Lensed Sky Quality Meter: 18.1 mag/arc-sec^2

Stacking: Mean with a 2-sigma clip.

White Balance: Nebulosity Automatic

Software: Nebulosity, Deep Sky Stacker, Photoshop

NGC 3115 is an edge-on spiral galaxy in Sextans. It’s a type S0 lenticular galaxy; a flat disk with a central bulge, but with almost no visible spiral structure such as the usual prominent spiral arms. Another feature that is notably absent is a significant dust lane. NGC 3115 has apparently consumed nearly all of its interstellar matter and star birth has come to a stop and the galaxy is composed primarily of old stars. These unique features gives the galaxy its characteristic shape and nickname; the Spindle Galaxy. NGC 3115 is one of two galaxies known as the Spindle, the other being NGC 5866 in Draco.

NGC 3115 is a relatively small, but fairly easy visible target and is currently well low in the southeast during the early evening.