NGC 3314 - SA(s)c pec + Sb

NGC 3314

De Vaucouleurs Atlas Type: SA(s)c pec + Sb

Filter: V

Telescope: HST 2.4-m
North right , East up
Field Dimensions: 1.6 x 1.6 arcminutes

RC3 Type: ----
RSA Type: -----
Surface Brightness Range Displayed: 16.5-26.0 mag per square arcsec
Absolute Blue Magnitude: -

De Vaucouleurs Atlas Description:

This intriguing system is a rare example of almost exact superposition, a foreground Sc spiral backlit by a background Sb (Keel 1983). Such systems are very important because they allow direct measurements of the opacity of spiral galaxies (White and Keel 1992). Using differential photometry, White, Keel, and Conselice (2000), show how the extinguished light of the background system can be determined, and the amount of dust opacity in the foreground disk inferred. Dust in the background galaxy is also evident in this HST image.