SUNSET: 
0
Photographer:
Mark Germani
Location of Photo:
Vancouver, BC, Canada
Date/Time of photo:
4 - 6 Sep 2024, 29 Sep 2024, 2 Oct 2024
Equipment:
Astro-Tech AT92 telescope, ZWO ASI533MC Pro camera, Optolong L-Pro filter, iOptron CEM26 mount
Description:
The Deer Lick group is not a proper galactic group - they're not gravitationally bound, but rather are a visual grouping of galaxies. NGC 7331 itself is a beautiful flocculent spiral galaxy located about 45 million light years away. While gravitationally unassociated with the rest of the group, it is possibly associated with one of the members of Stephan's Quintet, the very first compact galaxy group ever discovered. NGC 7317, NGC 7318a & 7318b (two merging galaxies), and NGC 7319 are about six times more distant than the Deer Lick galaxy at 290 million light years, and are the inspiration for the galaxies seen in Capra's "It's a Wonderful Life".
