PGC 51214 and PGC 200317 comprise Arp 45, an example of a spiral galaxy with a fainter companion. Unfortunately, it is not clear which is which. HyperLeda (and as a consequence, Wikisky) list the fainter galaxy as PGC 51214, and the brighter as PGC 200317; but NED reverses the PGC designations, and I have yet to find an independent database which clarifies the matter. However, although the "names" of the galaxies are confused, both catalogs agree on their characteristics. The brighter galaxy (RA 14 19 55, Dec +51 53 38) has a recessional velocity of 8705 km/sec, and an apparent size of 0.7 by 0.5 arcmin. The fainter galaxy (RA 14 20 01, Dec +51 52 53) has a recessional velocity of 8770 km/sec, and an apparent size of 0.4 by 0.3 arcmin. This implies that the pair is gravitationally bound, and about 390 million light years away; and that the larger is about 80 thousand light years across, and the smaller is about 45 thousand light years across. Note: the exaggeratedly red star which dominates the closeup is a 10th-magnitude object. |