NGC6667 or NGC6668 or NGC6678 – a rarely imaged interesting perturbed disk in Hercules
About the Object
NGC 6667 is a peculiar barred spiral galaxy about 125 million light-years away, displaying distorted spiral arms and tidal features that reveal a turbulent merger history. The galaxy is also known for an unusual cataloging quirk: it appears three times in the New General Catalogue as NGC 6667, NGC 6668, and NGC 6678, the result of multiple independent observations by Lewis Swift that were later recognized as the same object. Its location adds a second layer of confusion, as the galaxy lies almost exactly on the border between Hercules and Draco. While the official IAU constellation boundaries place it in Hercules, many catalogs and planetarium programs still list it under Draco. Today, all three NGC designations and both constellation attributions ultimately refer to this single, remarkable and rarely imaged galaxy.
Observation Notes
Data were taken on 2026 June 21, 22, 23, and 24
Technical Details
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