NGC 3023 and NGC 3018
NGC 3023 and NGC 3018 are a pair of galaxies in Sextans. The system is interesting because of the presence of Markarian (Mrk) 1236 - an intensely bright blue/ultraviolet source appearing within NGC 3023. Although unclear, it is believed to be a very active giant star forming region. The spectrum of Mrk 1236 resembles that of a Wolf-Rayet star, suggesting very recent star formation (within the past few million years before this light was emitted). NGC 3023 and NGC 3018 appear to be interacting and this would explain the vigorous star formation and considerable UV activity as recorded by GALEX. Both galaxies show distorted spiral arms and were probably barred spiral galaxies before their interactions started.  They are about 31.2 megaparsecs (or about 102 million light years) from Earth. Despite extensive searches I have been unable to find any deep images of these targets, a
TARGET
Nomenclature: NGC 3023 and NGC 3018
Right Ascension: 09:49:52
Declination:  +00:37:03 (NGC 3023)
Size: 2'0 x 1.1' (NGC 3023)
EQUIPMENT USED
APM TMB LZOS 152 refractors
10Micron GM2000 HPS mount
IMAGE CAPTURE
Red: 14x300" bin 1x1
Green: 12x300" bin 1x1
Blue: 13x300" bin 1x1
Luminance 41x600" bin 1x1
Total Integration: 10 hours 5  minutes
Pixel scale: 0.530 arcsec/pixel
Field radius: 0.261 degrees
Capture location:  Fregenal de la Sierra, Spain
IMAGE PROCESSING:
CCDStack2 and Photoshop