NGC 3640 | |
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Observation data (J2000 epoch) | |
Constellation | Leo |
Right ascension | 11h 21m 06.8s [1] |
Declination | +03° 14′ 05″ [1] |
Redshift | 0.004330 ± 0.000017 [1] |
Heliocentric radial velocity | 1,298 ± 5 km/s [1] |
Distance | 75.4 ± 25 Mly (23.1 ± 7.7 Mpc) [1] |
Apparent magnitude (V) | 10.3 [2] |
Characteristics | |
Type | E3 [1] |
Apparent size (V) | 4.0′ × 3.2′ [1] |
Other designations | |
UGC 6368, CGCG 039-130, MCG +01-29-033, PGC 34778 [1] |
NGC 3640 is an elliptical galaxy located in the constellation Leo. It is located at a distance of circa 75 million light years from Earth, which, given its apparent dimensions, means that NGC 3640 is about 90,000 light years across. It was discovered by William Herschel on February 23, 1784. [3] It is a member of the NGC 3640 Group of galaxies, which is a member of the Leo II Groups, a series of galaxies and galaxy clusters strung out from the right edge of the Virgo Supercluster. [4]
It lies 2 degrees south of Sigma Leonis and is a member of the Herschel 400 Catalogue. It is condensed and can be spotted with a small telescope from suburban skies. [5]
NGC 3640 is an elliptical galaxy with a highly disturbed stellar component. [6] The galaxy features boxy isophotes, and patchy shell-like features. These features indicate a recent merger with a smaller gas-poor galaxy. A dust lane is observed along the minor-axis, spanning 30 arcseconds in a north-south direction. The galaxy has a high rotational velocity, estimated to be 120 ± 10 km/s, higher than that of other elliptical galaxies of similar luminosity. [7] The HI mass of the galaxy is estimated to be 1.85×107 M☉ and the mass of HII less than 7.44×107 M☉. [8]
In the centre of NGC 3640 lies a supermassive black hole whose mass is estimated to be roughly 100 million (107.99 ± 0.39) M☉ based on the Sérsic profile. [9]
NGC 3640 is the foremost galaxy in a galaxy group known as the NGC 3640 group. Other members of the group include NGC 3630, NGC 3641, NGC 3643, and NGC 3664. [10] NGC 3640 forms a pair with NGC 3641, which lies 2.5 arcminutes south from NGC 3640. The group belongs to the Leo II groups, a large collection of galaxies belonging to the Virgo Supercluster scattered across 30 million light years of space west of the Virgo Cluster. [11]
The Local Supercluster, or Virgo Supercluster is a formerly defined supercluster containing the Virgo Cluster and Local Group, which itself contains the Milky Way and Andromeda galaxies, as well as others. At least 100 galaxy groups and clusters are located within its diameter of 33 megaparsecs. The Virgo Supercluster is one of about 10 million superclusters in the observable universe and is in the Pisces–Cetus Supercluster Complex, a galaxy filament.
NGC 2903 is an isolated barred spiral galaxy in the equatorial constellation of Leo, positioned about 1.5° due south of Lambda Leonis. It was discovered by German-born astronomer William Herschel, who cataloged it on November 16, 1784. He mistook it as a double nebula, as did subsequent observers, and it wasn't until the nineteenth century that the Third Earl of Rosse resolved into a spiral form. J. L. E. Dreyer assigned it the identifiers 2903 and 2905 in his New General Catalogue; NGC 2905 now designates a luminous knot in the northeastern spiral arm.
NGC 3607 is a small but fairly bright lenticular galaxy in the equatorial constellation of Leo, about 2.5° south of the prominent star Delta Leonis. The galaxy was discovered March 14, 1784 by William Herschel. Dreyer described it as "very bright, large, round, very much brighter middle, 2nd of 3". It is located at a distance of 73 million light years and is receding with a radial velocity of 930 km/s. The galaxy lies southwest of NGC 3626 at an angular separation of ~50′. It occupies the center of the Leo II Group of galaxies, forming one of its two brightest members – the other being NGC 3608. It is a member of the NGC 3607 Group of galaxies, which is a member of the Leo II Groups, a series of galaxies and galaxy clusters strung out from the right edge of the Virgo Supercluster.
NGC 4203 is the New General Catalogue identifier for a lenticular galaxy in the northern constellation of Coma Berenices. It was discovered on March 20, 1787 by English astronomer William Herschel, and is situated 5.5° to the northwest of the 4th magnitude star Gamma Comae Berenices and can be viewed with a small telescope. The morphological classification of NGC 4203 is SAB0−, indicating that it has a lenticular form with tightly wound spiral arms and a weak bar structure at the nucleus.
NGC 3893 is a spiral galaxy located in the constellation Ursa Major. It is located at a distance of circa 50 million light years from Earth, which, given its apparent dimensions, means that NGC 3893 is about 70,000 light years across. It was discovered by William Herschel on February 9, 1788. NGC 3893 interacts with its satellite, NGC 3896.
NGC 4939 is a spiral galaxy located in the constellation Virgo. It is located at a distance of about 120 million light years from Earth, which, given its apparent dimensions, means that NGC 4939 is about 190,000 light years across. It was discovered by William Herschel on March 25, 1786.
NGC 1395 is an elliptical galaxy located in the constellation Eridanus. It is located at a distance of circa 75 million light years from Earth, which, given its apparent dimensions, means that NGC 1395 is about 130,000 light years across. It was discovered by William Herschel on November 17, 1784. It is a member of the Eridanus Cluster.
NGC 3585 is an elliptical or a lenticular galaxy located in the constellation Hydra. It is located at a distance of circa 60 million light-years from Earth, which, given its apparent dimensions, means that NGC 3585 is about 80,000 light years across. It was discovered by William Herschel on December 9, 1784.
NGC 4665, also catalogued as NGC 4624 and NGC 4664, is a barred lenticular or spiral galaxy located in the constellation Virgo. It 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. It is located at a distance of circa 60 million light years from Earth, which, given its apparent dimensions, means that NGC 4665 is about 75,000 light years across. NGC 4665 lies 2 and 3/4 degrees east-south east of Delta Virginis and 50 arcminutes southwest of 35 Virginis. It can be viewed through a moderately sized telescope with 23x magnification, forming a pair with an 11th magnitude star 1.5 arcminutes southwest. It is part of the Herschel 400 Catalogue.
NGC 4636 is an elliptical galaxy located in the constellation Virgo. It is a member of the NGC 4753 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. It is located at a distance of about 55 million light years from Earth, which, given its apparent dimensions, means that NGC 4636 is about 105,000 light years across.
NGC 5846 is an elliptical galaxy located in the constellation Virgo. It is located at a distance of circa 90 million light years from Earth, which, given its apparent dimensions, means that NGC 5846 is about 110,000 light years across. It was discovered by William Herschel on February 24, 1786. It lies near 110 Virginis and is part of the Herschel 400 Catalogue. It is a member of the NGC 5846 Group of galaxies, itself one of the Virgo III Groups strung out to the east of the Virgo Supercluster of galaxies.
NGC 7196 is an elliptical galaxy registered in the New General Catalogue. It is located in the direction of the Indus constellation, at a distance of circa 150 million light years. It was discovered by the English astronomer John Herschel in 1834 using a 47.5 cm reflector.
IC 1459 is an elliptical galaxy located in the constellation Grus. It is located at a distance of circa 85 million light-years from Earth, which, given its apparent dimensions, means that IC 1459 is about 130,000 light-years across. It was discovered by Edward Emerson Barnard in 1892.
NGC 4066 is an elliptical galaxy located 340 million light-years away in the constellation Coma Berenices. The galaxy was discovered by astronomer William Herschel on April 27, 1785. NGC 4066 is a member of the NGC 4065 Group.
NGC 3729 is a barred spiral galaxy located in the constellation Ursa Major. It is located at a distance of circa 65 million light years from Earth, which, given its apparent dimensions, means that NGC 3729 is about 60,000 light years across. It was discovered by William Herschel on April 12, 1789.
NGC 2974 is a lenticular galaxy located in the constellation Sextans. It is located at a distance of circa 90 million light years from Earth, which, given its apparent dimensions, means that NGC 2974 is about 90,000 light years across. It was discovered by William Herschel on January 6, 1785. NGC 2974 is located in the sky about 2 and a half degrees south-south east of Iota Hydrae and more than 6 degrees northeast of Alphard. A 10th magnitude star lies next to the galaxy, thus making it a challenging object at low magnifications. NGC 2974 is part of the Herschel 400 Catalogue.
NGC 4298 is a flocculent spiral galaxy located about 53 million light-years away in the constellation Coma Berenices. The galaxy was discovered by astronomer William Herschel on April 8, 1784 and is a member of the Virgo Cluster.
NGC 3664 is a magellanic barred spiral galaxy in the constellation of Leo. It is located about 80 million light years away from Earth, which means, given its apparent dimensions, that NGC 3664 is approximately 50,000 light years across. It was discovered by Wilhelm Tempel on March 14, 1879. It is a member of the NGC 3640 Group of galaxies, which is a member of the Leo II Groups, a series of galaxies and galaxy clusters strung out from the right edge of the Virgo Supercluster.
NGC 4324 is a lenticular galaxy located about 85 million light-years away in the constellation Virgo. It was discovered by astronomer Heinrich d'Arrest on March 4, 1862. NGC 4324 has a stellar mass of 5.62 × 1010M☉, and a baryonic mass of 5.88 × 1010M☉. The galaxy's total mass is around 5.25 × 1011M☉. NGC 4324 is notable for having a ring of star formation surrounding its nucleus. It was considered a member of the Virgo II Groups until 1999, when its distance was recalculated and it was placed in the Virgo W Group.
NGC 4123 is a modest-sized, strongly-barred spiral galaxy located 75 million light-years away in the equatorial constellation of Virgo. It was discovered February 25, 1784 by William Herschel. This is a member of the Virgo cluster, and it belongs to a group of three galaxies. A companion galaxy, NGC 4116, lies at an angular separation of 14′ to the southwest. There is no indication of an interaction between the two galaxies. The third member of the group is NGC 4179.