NGC 4550

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NGC 4550
NGC4550 - SDSS DR14.jpg
SDSS image of NGC 4550
Observation data (J2000 epoch)
Constellation Virgo
Right ascension 12h 35m 30.6s [1]
Declination +12° 13′ 15″ [1]
Redshift 381 ± 9 km/s [1]
Distance 50.0 Mly
Apparent magnitude  (V)12.2 [1]
Characteristics
Type SB(s)00 [1]
Apparent size  (V)2′.85 × 0′.82 [1]
Other designations
UGC 7757, [1] PGC 41943, VCC 1619 [1]

NGC 4550 is a barred lenticular galaxy located in the constellation of Virgo that can be seen with amateur telescopes. It lies at a distance of 50 million light-years (15.5 mega parsecs) from the Milky Way and is a member of the Virgo Cluster. [2]

Contents

Physical characteristics

While NGC 4550 is not one of the brightest galaxies of the Virgo Cluster, it is notable as it is one of the few galaxies where a large fraction of its stars rotate around the galaxy's center in opposite direction to the others. [3] [4]

About her research article on this galaxy, Vera Rubin wrote: "I discovered from observations of NGC 4550 that in the single disk of this galaxy, half the stars orbit clockwise, and half the stars orbit counterclockwise, both systems intermingled. This observation required that many astronomers modify the manner in which they measured velocities, for computer programs were not then equipped to handle such complexity." She mentions and takes pleasure in the fact that the discovery was made at age 63.

Another, brighter, example is the spiral galaxy NGC 7217. The stars of this galaxy are concentrated in two disks of similar size and surface brightness, one nested within the other [4] and it has been suggested it is the product of the merger between two previous disk galaxies, each one counter-rotating with respect to the other. [5]

NGC 4550's center also shows a small amount of molecular hydrogen and interstellar dust, [4] the latter concentrated in a disk surrounding its core [6] where star formation is taking place albeit at a very modest level. [5]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Virgo Cluster</span> Galaxy cluster in the constellation Virgo

The Virgo Cluster is a large cluster of galaxies whose center is 53.8 ± 0.3 Mly away in the constellation Virgo. Comprising approximately 1,300 member galaxies, the cluster forms the heart of the larger Virgo Supercluster, of which the Local Group is a member. The Local Group actually experiences the mass of the Virgo Supercluster as the Virgocentric flow. It is estimated that the Virgo Cluster's mass is 1.2×1015M☉ out to 8 degrees of the cluster's center or a radius of about 2.2 Mpc.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Black Eye Galaxy</span> Spiral galaxy in the constellation Coma Berenices

The Black Eye Galaxy is a relatively isolated spiral galaxy 17 million light-years away in the mildly northern constellation of Coma Berenices. It was discovered by Edward Pigott in March 1779, and independently by Johann Elert Bode in April of the same year, as well as by Charles Messier the next year. A dark band of absorbing dust partially in front of its bright nucleus gave rise to its nicknames of the "Black Eye", "Evil Eye", or "Sleeping Beauty" galaxy. M64 is well known among amateur astronomers due to its form in small telescopes and visibility across inhabited latitudes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sombrero Galaxy</span> Galaxy in the constellation Virgo

The Sombrero Galaxy is a peculiar galaxy of unclear classification in the constellation borders of Virgo and Corvus, being about 9.55 megaparsecs from the Milky Way galaxy. 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 has an isophotal diameter of approximately 29.09 to 32.32 kiloparsecs, making it slightly bigger in size than the Milky Way.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Messier 89</span> Elliptical galaxy in the constellation Virgo

Messier 89 is an elliptical galaxy in the constellation Virgo. It was discovered by Charles Messier on March 18, 1781. M89 is a member of the Virgo Cluster of galaxies.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fornax Cluster</span> Galaxy cluster in the constellation Fornax

The Fornax Cluster is a cluster of galaxies lying at a distance of 19 megaparsecs (62 million light-years). It has an estimated mass of (7±2)×1013 solar masses, making it the second richest galaxy cluster within 100 million light-years, after the considerably larger Virgo Cluster. It may be associated with the nearby Eridanus Group. It lies primarily in the constellation Fornax, with its southern boundaries partially crossing into the constellation of Eridanus, and covers an area of sky about 6° across or about 28 sq degrees.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">NGC 7217</span> Galaxy in the constellation Pegasus

NGC 7217 is an unbarred spiral galaxy in the constellation Pegasus.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">NGC 1404</span> Elliptical galaxy in the Fornax Cluster

NGC 1404 is an elliptical galaxy in the Southern constellation Eridanus. It was discovered on November 28, 1837, by the astronomer John Herschel. Based on the tip of the red-giant branch distance indicator, it lies at a distance of approximately 60 million light-years from the Milky Way. It is one of the brightest members of the Fornax Cluster.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Anemic galaxy</span> Type of spiral galaxy characterized by a low contrast between its spiral arms and the disk

An anemic galaxy is a type of spiral galaxy characterized by a low contrast between its spiral arms and its disk.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">NGC 6166</span> Galaxy in the constellation Hercules

NGC 6166 is an elliptical galaxy in the Abell 2199 cluster. It lies 490 million light years away in the constellation Hercules. The primary galaxy in the cluster, it is one of the most luminous galaxies known in terms of X-ray emissions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">NGC 4262</span> Galaxy in the constellation Coma Berenices

NGC 4262 is a lenticular galaxy located in the constellation of Coma Berenices.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">NGC 4698</span> Galaxy in the constellation Virgo

NGC 4698 is a barred spiral galaxy located around 55 million light years away from Earth in the constellation of Virgo. It belongs to the Virgo Cluster of galaxies and is positioned near the northeastern edge of this assemblage. The morphological classification of NGC 4698 in the De Vaucouleurs system is SA(s)ab, which indicates a purely spiral structure with moderate to tightly wound arms. It is inclined to the line of sight from the Earth by an angle of 53° along a position angle of 170°.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">NGC 4041</span> Spiral galaxy in the constellation Ursa Major

NGC 4041 is the New General Catalogue identifier for a spiral galaxy in the northern circumpolar constellation of Ursa Major. It is located an estimated 70 million light years from the Sun. The morphological classification of SA(rs)bc indicates this is a spiral galaxy the lacks a bar; the 'rs' means it has a weakly-formed ring structure, and the 'bc' indicates the spiral arms are moderately to loosely wound.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">NGC 4293</span> Galaxy in the constellation Coma Berenices

NGC 4293 is a lenticular galaxy in the northern constellation of Coma Berenices. It was discovered by English astronomer William Herschel on March 14, 1784, who described it as "large, extended, resolvable, 6 or 7′ long". This galaxy is positioned to the north-northwest of the star 11 Comae Berenices and is a member of the Virgo Cluster of galaxies. It is assumed to lie at the same distance as the Virgo Cluster itself: around 54 million light years away. The galaxy spans an apparent area of 5.3 × 3.1 arc minutes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">NGC 4580</span> Galaxy in the constellation Virgo

NGC 4580 is an unbarred spiral galaxy located about 70 million light-years away in the constellation Virgo. NGC 4580 is also classified as a LINER galaxy. It was discovered by astronomer William Herschel on February 2, 1786 and is a member of the Virgo Cluster.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">IC 1459</span> Elliptical galaxy in the constellation of Grus

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">NGC 4294</span> Galaxy in the constellation Virgo

NGC 4294 is a barred spiral galaxy with flocculent spiral arms located about 55 million light-years away in the constellation Virgo. The galaxy was discovered by astronomer William Herschel on March 15, 1784 and is a member of the Virgo Cluster.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">NGC 4298</span> Galaxy in the constellation Coma Berenices

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">NGC 4299</span> Spiral galaxy in the constellation Virgo

NGC 4299 is a featureless spiral galaxy located about 55 million light-years away in the constellation Virgo. It was discovered by astronomer William Herschel on March 15, 1784 and is a member of the Virgo Cluster.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">NGC 4302</span> Galaxy in the constellation Coma Berenices

NGC 4302 is an edge-on spiral galaxy located about 55 million light-years away in the constellation Coma Berenices. It was discovered by astronomer William Herschel on April 8, 1784 and is a member of the Virgo Cluster.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">NGC 4318</span> Galaxy in the constellation Virgo

NGC 4318 is a small lenticular galaxy located about 72 million light-years away in the constellation Virgo. It was discovered by astronomer John Herschel on January 18, 1828. NGC 4318 is a member of the Virgo W′ group, a group of galaxies in the background of the Virgo Cluster that is centered on the giant elliptical galaxy NGC 4365.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "NASA/IPAC Extragalactic Database". Results for NGC 4550. Retrieved 2012-12-25.
  2. ↑ Mei, S.; Blakeslee, J. P.; Côté, P.; Tonry, J.L.; West, M. J.; Ferrarese, L.; Jordán, A.; Peng, E. W.; et al. (January 2007). "The ACS Virgo Cluster Survey. XIII. SBF Distance Catalog and the Three-dimensional Structure of the Virgo Cluster". The Astrophysical Journal. 655 (1): 144–162. arXiv: astro-ph/0702510 . Bibcode:2007ApJ...655..144M. doi:10.1086/509598. S2CID   16483538.
  3. ↑
  4. 1 2 3 Wiklind, T.; Henkel, C. (September 2001). "Molecular gas and dust in NGC 4550. A galaxy with two counterrotating stellar disks". Astronomy & Astrophysics. 375 (3): 797–804. arXiv: astro-ph/0106286 . Bibcode:2001A&A...375..797W. doi:10.1051/0004-6361:20010860. S2CID   18534079.
  5. 1 2 Crocker, A. F.; Jeong, H.; Komugi, S.; Combes, F.; Bureau, M.; Young, L. M.; Yi, S. (March 2009). "Molecular gas and star formation in the red-sequence counter-rotating disc galaxy NGC 4550". Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society . 393 (4): 1255–1264. arXiv: 0812.0178 . Bibcode:2009MNRAS.393.1255C. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2966.2008.14295.x . S2CID   14716810.{{cite journal}}: |last5= has generic name (help)
  6. ↑ Mei, S.; Côté, P.; Jordán, A.; Peng, E.W.; Blakeslee, J. P.; Piatek, S.; Mei, S.; Merritt, D.; et al. (June 2006). "The ACS Virgo Cluster Survey. VI. Isophotal Analysis and the Structure of Early-Type Galaxies". The Astrophysical Journal Supplement Series. 164 (2): 334–434. arXiv: astro-ph/0602297 . Bibcode:2006ApJS..164..334F. doi:10.1086/501350. S2CID   18618068.


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