| NGC 4731 | |
|---|---|
 NGC 4731 (Hubble) | |
| Observation data (J2000 epoch) | |
| Constellation | Virgo |
| Right ascension | 12h 51m 01.095s [1] |
| Declination | −06° 23′ 34.98″ [1] |
| Heliocentric radial velocity | 1488.6 km/s [1] |
| Distance | 43 Mly |
| Apparent magnitude (B) | 12 [1] |
| Characteristics | |
| Type | SBc |
| Other designations | |
| UGCA 302, MCG -01-33-026, PGC 43507 [1] | |
NGC 4731 is a barred spiral galaxy located near the Virgo Supercluster. To its celestial south lies NGC 4731A, a small irregular galaxy. [2] Both galaxies feature high concentrations of neutral HI gas. [3] It is theorized that its elongated arm structure could be related to gravitational interactions with a nearby galaxy, NGC 4967. It is a member of the NGC 4697 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. [4]
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On 2 April 1950 (the April 1950 lunar eclipse) it was occulted by the Moon during a Total Lunar Eclipse over Europe except the N and NE, Africa, Madagascar and the Indian Ocean. It happened again under those same conditions during the April 1996 lunar eclipse over the North Atlantic, Europe, N and NE Africa and Southwest Asia. It will next happen on 4 April 2080 over NE Siberia, NW North America, and the Pacific Ocean including Hawaii. [5] : 160
