Spiral galaxy NGC 4651 is at a distance of 62 million light-years, toward the constellation Coma Berenices. About the size of our Milky Way, this island universe is seen to have a faint umbrella-shaped structure that seems to extend some 100,000 light-years beyond the bright galactic disk. The giant cosmic umbrella is now known to be composed of tidal star streams – extensive trails of stars gravitationally stripped from a smaller satellite galaxy. The small galaxy was eventually torn apart in repeated encounters as it swept back and forth on eccentric orbits through NGC 4651.
NGC 4651 – cropped image
Telescope: 16″ f3.75 Dream Scope
Camera: FLI ML16803
Mount: ASA DDM85
Exposure: 6 hours (34x300s L + 3x12x300s RGB)
Date: April 2021
Location: Southern Alps, France
Original FOV
Bart Delsaert - Astrophotography 