One of the more exotic members of the galactic zoo. NGC1316 is a lenticular AGN type galaxy. Its inner “flecks” of material are a puzzle. They could be caused by the bi-polar expulsion force of a strong magnetic field associated with a massive black hole at the core. Dust mixes with starlight to create the flecking. Thus the same mechanism that powers the jet coming out of M87 could be in play – or the inner bar may just be recirculating material back into the core from the outer regions.

The large halo surrounding the galaxy is mostly traced to interaction with its spiral companion on the left – NGC1317.

PlaneWave 12.5″ Astrograph with an ST11000 camera, Astrodon filters, and ASA gearless DDM-85 mount. F/8 LRGB (32/8min L, 8/8min each 2×2 RGB).