NGC 4651
Spiral galaxy in the constellation Coma Berenices
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
NGC 4651 is a spiral galaxy located in the constellation of Coma Berenices that can be seen with amateur telescopes, at a distance not well determined that ranges from 35 million light years[2] to 72 million light years.[3] It was discovered by German-British astronomer William Herschel on 30 December 1783.[4]
| NGC 4651 | |
|---|---|
NGC 4651. Note the umbrella-shaped stream. | |
| Observation data (J2000 epoch) | |
| Constellation | Coma Berenices |
| Right ascension | 12h 43m 42.6766s[1] |
| Declination | +16° 23′ 36.222″[1] |
| Redshift | 0.002669[1] |
| Heliocentric radial velocity | 800 ± 1 km/s[1] |
| Distance | 74.20 ± 3.50 Mly (22.749 ± 1.074 Mpc)[1] |
| Apparent magnitude (V) | 11.39[1] |
| Characteristics | |
| Type | SA(rs)c[1] |
| Size | ~87,900 ly (26.95 kpc) (estimated)[1] |
| Apparent size (V) | 4.0′ × 2.6′[1] |
| Other designations | |
| Umbrella Galaxy, IRAS 12412+1639, Arp 189, UGC 7901, MCG +03-33-001, PGC 42833, CGCG 100-004, VV 56[1] | |
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Features
This member of the Virgo Cluster, located on its outskirts,[5] is known as the Umbrella Galaxy due to the umbrella-shaped structure that extends from its disk to the east and that is composed of stellar streams, being the remnants of a much smaller galaxy that has been torn apart by NGC 4651's tidal forces,[2][6] something that explains why NGC 4651 has been included on Halton Arp's Atlas of Peculiar Galaxies as Arp 189 -galaxy with filaments-.
Studies using radiotelescopes of the distribution of its neutral hydrogen show distortions on NGC 4651's outer regions and a gas clump associated with a dwarf galaxy that may have been born in the event that produced the mentioned stellar streams.[7]
Unlike most spiral galaxies of the Virgo Cluster, NGC 4651 is rich in neutral hydrogen, also extending beyond the optical disk,[7] and its star formation is typical for a galaxy of its type.[5]
Supernovae
Two supernovae have been observed in NGC 4651:
- SN 1987K (Type II, mag. 15) was discovered by Carlton Pennypacker on 28 July 1987.[8][9]
- SN 2006my (Type II, mag. 15.3) was discovered by Kōichi Itagaki on 8 November 2006.[10][11]
