NGC 529, NGC 531, NGC 536, NGC 542

Also Known as: Hickson 10

Object Type: Galaxies

Constellation: Andromeda

Distance from Earth: 220 million light years

Apparent Magnitude: 12.4 (NGC 536)

Coordinates: RA 01H 26M 21.6S DEC 34 deg 42 min 12 sec (NGC 536)

Actual Size:

Apparent Dimensions:

Discovered by: On 13 September 1784 William Herschel discovered a «very faint nebula» using his 18.7" telescope. He cataloged it as III 171 [NGC 536] and just remarked: «stellar».
The main galaxy of the group NGC 536 was discovered in 1784 by William Herschel but he missed the other members which is a testament to their faintness. John Herschel found NGC 529 in 1827 and Mitchell working with the 72" at Birr found the remaining members of the group. On 17 November 1827 his son John found a nebula which he cataloged as h 118 [NGC 529] and noted: «pretty bright, very small, suddenly brighter in the middle.
The preceding of two.» The remaining two of this group (NGC 531 and NGC 542) were discovered on 16 October 1855 by R. J. Mitchell, assistant of 3rd Earl of Rosse.

Description: The British-Canadian astronomer Paul Hickson presented in 1982 his systematic search for groups of galaxies on the photo plates of the Palomar Observatory Sky Survey (POSS) to the public.
In order to be classified by him as a galaxy group, at least four members should be identifiable, which had to be reasonably compact and isolated from the rest.
The catalog contains 100 groups of galaxies.
Hickson 10 is one of the brighter members of the Hickson catalogue of compact galaxy groups but even so is still a challenge. This grouping consists of the galaxies NGC 529, 531, 536 and 542.
The group number 10 has 4 members. In the 1993 special issue of his «Atlas of Compact Groups of Galaxies» he noted: «This is a rather loose group of nearby bright galaxies.
The spiral galaxies (a [NGC 536], b [NGC 529] and c [NGC 531]) have extended spiral arms typical of interacting galaxies.»
NGC 536 is a fine spiral galaxy with a bright core. NGC 529 and 531 appear to be lenticular galaxies. This is slightly odd as normally these galaxies are found in large clusters where the ram pressure from the intra cluster gas has stripped the gas and dust from what started out as a spiral.
Hickson 10 does not appear to be part of a larger group so maybe there are other ways of forming this type of galaxy.
NGC 536 and NGC 531 appear likely an interacting pair in the group as both show large plume-like drawn out spiral arms typical of near misses.
The arms of NGC 536 appear severely warped as well. Neither however show a strong blue color. Both seem to have plenty of dust and gas from which new stars are often triggered by such interaction.
It could be this is hidden behind all the dust and gas.
NGC 536 does have a very active nucleus as shown by its AGN status. This often indicates a galaxy that has been severely shaken up by interaction.
NGC 529 has an extensive, somewhat blue halo much as if it is the result of a rather recent merger.

Click Below Image(s) for Full Size:

The Hickson 10 group is best observed in the winter when Andromeda is high in the night sky.

Platesolve

Hickson 10 Group of Galaxies

Imaging Details
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