NGC 5291
Interacting galaxies in the constellation Centaurus
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NGC 5291 is a system of interacting galaxies in the constellation Centaurus. Its velocity with respect to the cosmic microwave background is 4,648±20 km/s, which corresponds to a Hubble distance of 223.6 ± 15.7 Mly (68.55 ± 4.81 Mpc).[1] However, two non-redshift measurements give a closer mean distance of 177.43 ± 9.78 Mly (54.400 ± 3.000 Mpc).[2] It was discovered by British astronomer John Herschel on 8 May 1834.[3]
| NGC 5291 | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Observation data (J2000 epoch) | |
| Constellation | Centaurus |
| Right ascension | 13h 47m 24.5087s[1] |
| Declination | −30° 24′ 25.603″[1] |
| Redshift | 0.014602±0.000019[1] |
| Heliocentric radial velocity | 4,378±6 km/s[1] |
| Distance | 177.43 ± 9.78 Mly (54.400 ± 3.000 Mpc)[1] |
| Apparent magnitude (V) | 15.1[1] |
| Characteristics | |
| Type | E pec[1] |
| Size | ~85,300 ly (26.16 kpc) (estimated)[1] |
| Apparent size (V) | 1.1′ × 0.7′[1] |
| Other designations | |
| ESO 445- G 030, MCG -05-33-006, PGC 48893[1] | |
NGC 5291 is surrounded by a collisional ring, containing a young and star-forming tidal dwarf galaxy,[4] where dark matter has been detected.[5] It is also a Seyfert II galaxy, i.e. it has a quasar-like nucleus with very high surface brightnesses whose spectra reveal strong, high-ionisation emission lines, but unlike quasars, the host galaxy is clearly detectable.[6]
