NGC 521 | |
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Observation data (J2000 [1] epoch) | |
Constellation | Cetus [2] |
Right ascension | 01h 24m 33.8s [3] |
Declination | +01° 24′ 33.8″ [3] |
Redshift | 0.016902 [1] |
Heliocentric radial velocity | 5024.3 km/s [1] |
Distance | 224 Mly [4] |
Apparent magnitude (V) | 11.7 [2] |
Apparent magnitude (B) | 12.5 [2] |
Characteristics | |
Type | SBbc [2] |
Apparent size (V) | 2.7' × 2.4' [2] |
Other designations | |
PGC 5190, UGC 962, GC 304, MGC +00-04-118, 2MASS J01243377+0143532, h 115, IRAS 01219+0128 [1] [5] |
NGC 521, also occasionally referred to as PGC 5190 or UGC 962, is a barred spiral galaxy located approximately 224 million light-years from the Solar System [4] in the constellation Cetus. [2] It was discovered on 8 October 1785 by astronomer William Herschel. [5]
Herschel described his discovery as "faint, pretty large, irregular round, brighter middle". Further observations were made by both his son, John Herschel, who simply noted "big" on his first and "very faint" on his second observation, as well as R. J. Mitchell, who noted "pretty big, spiral galaxy, disc enveloped in faint outlying neby and looks like an unresolved cluster." [6] NGC 521 was later catalogued by John Louis Emil Dreyer in the New General Catalogue, where the galaxy was described as "faint, pretty large, round, gradually brighter middle". [5]
Three supernovae have been observed in NGC 521:
The galaxy's large apparent size can be attributed to the fact that it is face-on. Despite its size, it only has an apparent visual magnitude of 11.7. It can be classified as spiral galaxy of type SBbc using the Hubble Sequence. [2] The object's distance of roughly 220 million light-years from the Solar System can be estimated using its redshift and Hubble's law. [4]
Messier 61 is an intermediate barred spiral galaxy in the Virgo Cluster of galaxies. It was first discovered by Barnaba Oriani on May 5, 1779, six days before Charles Messier discovered the same galaxy. Messier had observed it on the same night as Oriani but had mistaken it for a comet. Its distance has been estimated to be 45.61 million light years from the Milky Way Galaxy. It is a member of the M61 Group of galaxies, which is a member of the Virgo II Groups, a series of galaxies and galaxy clusters strung out from the southern edge of the Virgo Supercluster.
NGC 3184, the Little Pinwheel Galaxy, is a spiral galaxy approximately 40 million light-years away in the constellation Ursa Major. Its name comes from its resemblance to the Pinwheel Galaxy. It was discovered on 18 March 1787 by German-British astronomer William Herschel. It has two HII regions named NGC 3180 and NGC 3181.
NGC 4414, also known as the Dusty Spiral Galaxy, is an unbarred spiral galaxy about 62 million light-years away in the constellation Coma Berenices. It was discovered by German-British astronomer William Herschel on 13 March 1785.
NGC 772 is a large unbarred spiral galaxy approximately 106 million light-years away in the constellation Aries. It was discovered on 29 November 1785 by German-British astronomer William Herschel.
NGC 6744 is an intermediate spiral galaxy in the constellation Pavo (Peacock). Its velocity with respect to the cosmic microwave background is 802 ± 3 km/s, which corresponds to a Hubble distance of 38.6 ± 2.7 Mly (11.82 ± 0.83 Mpc). However, 21 non redshift measurements give a distance of 23.63 ± 1.68 Mly (7.244 ± 0.514 Mpc). It was discovered on 30 June 1826 by Scottish astronomer James Dunlop, observing from Parramatta, Australia.
NGC 4567 and NGC 4568 are a set of unbarred spiral galaxies about 60 million light-years away in the constellation Virgo. They were both discovered by William Herschel in 1784. They are part of the Virgo Cluster of galaxies.
Arp 271 is a pair of similarly sized interacting spiral galaxies, NGC 5426 and NGC 5427, in the constellation of Virgo. It is not certain whether the galaxies are going to eventually collide or not. They will continue interacting for tens of millions of years, creating new stars as a result of the mutual gravitational attraction between the galaxies, a pull seen in the bridge of stars already connecting the two. Located about 130 million light-years away, the Arp 271 pair is about 130,000 light-years across. It was originally discovered in 1785 by William Herschel. It is speculated, that the Milky Way will undergo a similar collision in about five billion years with the neighbouring Andromeda Galaxy, which is currently located about 2.6 million light-years away.
NGC 7714 is a spiral galaxy in the constellation Pisces. Its velocity with respect to the cosmic microwave background is 2430 ± 26 km/s, which corresponds to a Hubble distance of 116.9 ± 8.3 Mly (35.85 ± 2.54 Mpc). In addition, five non-redshift measurements give a distance of 92.24 ± 8.69 Mly (28.280 ± 2.664 Mpc). It was discovered by British astronomer John Herschel on 18 September 1830.
NGC 3938 is an unbarred spiral galaxy in the Ursa Major constellation. It was discovered on 6 February 1788 by William Herschel. It is one of the brightest spiral galaxies in the Ursa Major South galaxy group and is roughly 67,000 light years in diameter. It is approximately 43 million light years away from Earth. NGC 3938 is classified as type Sc under the Hubble sequence, a loosely wound spiral galaxy with a smaller and dimmer bulge. The spiral arms of the galaxy contain many areas of ionized atomic hydrogen gas, more so towards the center.
NGC 922 is a peculiar galaxy in the southern constellation of Fornax. Its velocity with respect to the cosmic microwave background is 2879 ± 15 km/s, which corresponds to a Hubble distance of 138.5 ± 9.7 Mly (42.46 ± 2.98 Mpc). Additionally, 17 non-redshift measurements give a distance of 138.88 ± 7.47 Mly (42.582 ± 2.291 Mpc). It was discovered by German-British astronomer William Herschel on 17 November 1784.
NGC 4527 is a spiral galaxy in the constellation Virgo. It was discovered by German-British astronomer William Herschel on 23 February 1784.
NGC 3198, also known as Herschel 146 is a barred spiral galaxy in the constellation Ursa Major. It was discovered by William Herschel on 15 January 1788. NGC 3198 is located in the Leo Spur, which is part of the Virgo Supercluster, and is approximately 47 million light years away.
NGC 6181 is a barred spiral galaxy located in the constellation Hercules. It is designated as SB(rs)c in the galaxy morphological classification scheme and was discovered by William Herschel on 28 April 1788. The galaxy is 107 million light years away.
NGC 488 is a face-on spiral galaxy in the constellation Pisces. It was discovered by German-British astronomer William Herschel on 13 December 1784. It is at a distance of about 90 million light-years away from Earth. Its diameter is estimated to be 52,6 Kpc. The galaxy has a large central bulge, and is considered a prototype galaxy with multiple spiral arms. Its arms are tightly wound. Star forming activity has been traced within the arms. The nucleus of NGC 488 has been found to be chemically decoupled, being twice as metal rich as the central bulge of the galaxy. NGC 488, with the exception of its smaller companions, that form NGC 488 group, is an isolated galaxy.
NGC 524 is a lenticular galaxy in the constellation Pisces. It is at a distance of about 90 million light-years away from Earth. In the central bulge of the galaxy is visible gas forming a spiral structure. It is the largest galaxy in the small NGC 524 group of galaxies, which is associated with NGC 488 and its group. It was discovered by William Herschel on 4 September 1786.
NGC 132 is a spiral galaxy in the constellation Cetus. Its velocity with respect to the cosmic microwave background is 5015 ± 25 km/s, which corresponds to a Hubble distance of 241.3 ± 16.9 Mly (73.97 ± 5.19 Mpc). In addition, three non redshift measurements give a distance of 250.81 ± 2.14 Mly (76.900 ± 0.656 Mpc). It was discovered on 25 December 1790 by German-British astronomer William Herschel.
NGC 7038 is an intermediate spiral galaxy located about 210 million light-years away in the constellation of Indus. Astronomer John Herschel discovered NGC 7038 on September 30, 1834.
NGC 493, also occasionally referred to as PGC 4979 or GC 281, is a barred spiral galaxy in the constellation Cetus. It is located approximately 90 million light-years from Earth and was discovered on December 20, 1786 by astronomer William Herschel. It was later also observed by his son, John Herschel. John Dreyer, creator of the New General Catalogue, described the galaxy as "very faint, large, much extended 60°" with "a little brighter middle".
NGC 3810 is a spiral galaxy located in the constellation Leo. It is about 50 million light years from Earth, and estimated to be about 60,000 light years in diameter. William Herschel discovered it on 15 March 1784.
NGC 735 is a spiral galaxy in the constellation of Triangulum. Its velocity with respect to the cosmic microwave background is 4374 ± 18 km/s, which corresponds to a Hubble distance of 210.4 ± 14.7 Mly (64.52 ± 4.52 Mpc). In addition, eight non redshift measurements give a distance of 227.21 ± 7.99 Mly (69.662 ± 2.449 Mpc). The galaxy was discovered by German-British astronomer William Herschel on 13 September 1784).