This image shows the center of the large galaxy cluster Abell 1060. Countless galaxies are visible in the image, dominated by the pair of giant ellipticals in the center; NGC 3309 and NGC 3311. Also known as Hydra I, Abell 1060 is a member of the Hydra-Centaurus Supercluster.
The large bluish galaxy towards the upper right is a spiral viewed somewhat from the edge, and clearly distorted from gravitational interactions with other members of the cluster. The brightest of the two adjacent giant elliptical galaxies (NGC 3311) has an noticable large assymetrical halo extending towards the lower right, perhaps as a result of this encounter.
The cluster is located around 140 million light years away in the southern constellation Hydra.
OPTICS: 10" Serrurier truss Newtonian f/5
MOUNT: Losmandy G-11
CAMERA: SBIG ST-7 / Philips ToUCam Pro SC1 webcam
FILTERS: None
EXPOSURE: L: 4 x 1800s + 3 x 900s, RGB: Overlaid from my earlier image with the ToUCam
DATE/TIME: 18/02/2012
LOCATION: My backyard observatory in west Auckland, New Zealand