The Eyes Galaxies, consisting of NGC 4435 and NGC 4438, are a striking example of interacting galaxies with distorted shapes due to gravitational forces. NGC 4435 is a barred lenticular galaxy, while NGC 4438 shows signs of tidal disruption, making it a fascinating target for astrophotographers. Their close proximity and contrasting features create a visually appealing pair, often captured in deep-sky images. The interaction between these galaxies has likely triggered star formation, particularly in NGC 4435’s nucleus.
Names and Catalog numbers
- Eyes Galaxies (trivial name)
- Arp 120
- NGC 4438
- PGC 40914
- UGC 7574
- VV 188
- NGC 4435
- PGC 40898
- UGC 7575
Position and the cosmic neighborhood
The Eyes Galaxies are part of Markarian’s Chain, a string of galaxies in the Virgo Cluster. They sit in a rich galaxy field, surrounded by numerous other members of the Virgo Cluster, making this region particularly rewarding for wide-field astrophotography. Their location near the center of the Virgo Cluster means they’re often imaged alongside other famous galaxies in the area.
Nice to Know
- The interaction between these galaxies has created long tidal tails, though some may actually be foreground cirrus clouds in our own Milky Way.
- NGC 4435 contains a relatively young stellar population (about 190 million years old) in its nucleus, likely triggered by the interaction.
- The pair is nicknamed “The Eyes” due to their similar apparent brightness and proximity creating an eye-like appearance in images.
- They were included in Halton Arp’s Atlas of Peculiar Galaxies as an example of interacting galaxies.
Brightness, distance and size
The Eyes Galaxies have an apparent magnitude of about +10 and are located approximately 52 million light-years away. NGC 4435 spans about 52,000 light-years (2.35 × 1.43 arcminutes) while NGC 4438 is larger at about 188,000 light-years (8.5 × 3.2 arcminutes), making them both substantial targets for imaging despite their distance.
