This would certainly qualify as a "Multi-Galaxy System", a large 11.7 magnitude primary galaxy, surrounded by numerous companions. NGC3432 itself is 7x1.5 arcmins in size, and is currently exhibiting large regions of star formation. The edge on SB spiral is filled with pink HII regions and blue knots marking active stellar associations. Just to the lower right is a companion galaxy, UGC5983 a dwarf galaxy beaming at 15.5 magnitude. Just above the primary is what appears to be an extended bright area in the arms. This is MAC 1052+3640, another 16th magnitude companion with little available data. The field is also filled with numerous 18th and 19th magnitude MAC anonymous galaxies. The blazing star off to the left is 10.3rd magnitude SAO62296, a spectral class of K2 gives it an orange coloration in the diffraction spikes. The Wray Atlas of Galaxies indicates there is no evidence in this galaxy for an older yellow stellar population.

Instrument:  12.5" f/5 Home made Newtonian
Platform:  Astrophysics 1200 QMD
CCD Camera:  SBIG ST7E w/Enhanced Cooling
Exposure:  LRGB = 60:20:20:36 (RGB Binned 2x2)
Filters:  RGB Tricolor
Location:  Payson, Arizona
Elevation:  5150 ft.
Sky:  Seeing FMHW = 2.5 arcsec, Transparency 8/10
Outside Temperature:  0 C
CCD Temperature:  -35 C
Processing:  Maxim DL, Photoshop, AIP4WIN, PW Pro.