NGC 486

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NGC 486
NGC 0486 SDSS.jpg
SDSS view of NGC 486
Observation data (J2000 epoch)
Constellation Pisces [1]
Right ascension  01h 21m 43.0s [2]
Declination +05° 20′ 47″ [2]
Apparent magnitude  (V)15.0 [1]
Apparent magnitude  (B)16.0 [1]
Characteristics
Type S?? [3]
Apparent size  (V)0.5' × 0.2' [1]
Notable featuresAngular proximity with faint star; commonly misidentified as PGC 4975
Other designations
PGC 1281966, GC 275, 2MASS J01221055+0524412

NGC 486, also occasionally referred to as LEDA 1281966 or GC 275, is a spiral galaxy in the constellation Pisces. [1] NGC 486 was discovered on December 6, 1850 by Irish engineer Bindon Blood Stoney. [3]

The Catalogue of Nebulae and Clusters of Stars (CN) is an astronomical catalogue of nebulae first published in 1786 by William Herschel, with the assistance of his sister Caroline Herschel. It was later expanded into the General Catalogue of Nebulae and Clusters of Stars (GC) by his son, John Herschel. The CN and GC are the precursors to John Louis Emil Dreyer's New General Catalogue (NGC) used by current astronomers.

Spiral galaxy galaxy having a number of arms of younger stars that spiral out from the centre containing older ones

Spiral galaxies form a class of galaxy originally described by Edwin Hubble in his 1936 work The Realm of the Nebulae and, as such, form part of the Hubble sequence. Most spiral galaxies consist of a flat, rotating disk containing stars, gas and dust, and a central concentration of stars known as the bulge. These are often surrounded by a much fainter halo of stars, many of which reside in globular clusters.

Pisces (constellation) Zodiac constellation straddling the celestial equator

Pisces is a constellation of the zodiac. Its name is the Latin plural for fish. It lies between Aquarius to the west and Aries to the east. The ecliptic and the celestial equator intersect within this constellation and in Virgo. Its symbol is .

Contents

NGC 486 is commonly misidentified as PGC 4975, which is sometimes referred to as NGC 492A. [3]

Observation history

Although John Dreyer, creator of the New General Catalogue, credits the discovery to astronomer William Parsons, 3rd Earl of Rosse, he notes that many of his claimed discoveries were made by one of his assistants. In the case of NGC 486, the discovery was made by Bindon Stoney [3] , who discovered it along with NGC 490, NGC 492 and NGC 500 during his observation of NGC 488 [4] using Lord Rosse's 72" reflecting telescope at Birr Castle in County Offaly, Ireland. [5]

John Louis Emil Dreyer Danish-Irish astronomer

John Louis Emil Dreyer was a Danish/British astronomer.

<i>New General Catalogue</i> astronomical catalogue of deep sky objects

The New General Catalogue of Nebulae and Clusters of Stars is a catalogue of deep-sky objects compiled by John Louis Emil Dreyer in 1888. It expands upon the cataloguing work of William and Caroline Herschel, and John Herschel's General Catalogue of Nebulae and Clusters of Stars. The NGC contains 7,840 objects, known as the NGC objects. It is one of the largest comprehensive catalogues, as it includes all types of deep space objects, including galaxies, star clusters, emission nebulae and absorption nebulae. Dreyer also published two supplements to the NGC in 1895 and 1908, known as the Index Catalogues, describing a further 5,386 astronomical objects.

Astronomer Scientist who studies celestial bodies

An astronomer is a scientist in the field of astronomy who focuses their studies on a specific question or field outside the scope of Earth. They observe astronomical objects such as stars, planets, moons, comets, and galaxies – in either observational or theoretical astronomy. Examples of topics or fields astronomers study include planetary science, solar astronomy, the origin or evolution of stars, or the formation of galaxies. Related but distinct subjects like physical cosmology, which studies the Universe as a whole.

Description

The object was initially described by Stoney as "extremely faint, extremely small, stellar, 5 arcmin north of h 103". The position noted not only corresponds with the coordinates of the spiral galaxy (PGC 1281966), but also a faint star. [4] As the object was characterized as stellar, it is assumed that the initial observation was of the star, not PGC 1281966 that is generally referred to as NGC 486 today. [3]

NGC 488 galaxy

NGC 488 is a face-on spiral galaxy in the constellation Pisces. It is at a distance of about 90 million light-years away from Earth. Its diameter is estimated to be 52,6 Kpc. The galaxy has a large central bulge, and is considered a prototype galaxy with multiple spiral arms. Its arms are tightly wound. Star forming activity has been traced within the arms. The nucleus of NGC 488 has been found to be chemically decoupled, being twice as metal rich as the central bulge of the galaxy. NGC 488, with the exception of its smaller companions, that form NGC 488 group, is an isolated galaxy.

See also

Related Research Articles

NGC 500 galaxy

NGC 500 is a type E-SO lenticular galaxy located in the Pisces constellation. It has an apparent size of .8 by .6 arcminutes and an apparent magnitude of 14.2. It was first discovered in 1850 by Bindon Blood Stoney during his time at Birr Castle in Ireland.

NGC 459 galaxy

NGC 459, also known as UGC 832, MCG 3-4-17, ZWG 459.24, and PGC 4665, is a spiral galaxy in the constellation Pisces. It was discovered on October 15, 1784, by William Herschel. It was described as being extremely faint by John Dreyer in the New General Catalogue.

NGC 490 galaxy

NGC 490, also occasionally referred to as PGC 4973 or GC 277, is a lenticular galaxy in the constellation Pisces. It is located approximately 85 million light-years from Earth and was discovered on December 6, 1850, by Irish engineer Bindon Blood Stoney. Although John Dreyer, creator of the New General Catalogue, credits the discovery to astronomer William Parsons, he notes that many of his claimed discoveries were made by one of his assistants. In the case of NGC 490, the discovery was made by Bindon Stoney, who discovered it along with NGC 486, NGC 492 and NGC 500 during his observation of NGC 488.

NGC 492 galaxy

NGC 492, also occasionally referred to as PGC 4976 or GC 280, is a barred spiral galaxy in the constellation Pisces. It is located approximately 590 million light-years from Earth and was discovered on December 6, 1850 by Irish engineer Bindon Blood Stoney. Although John Dreyer, creator of the New General Catalogue, credits the discovery to astronomer William Parsons, 3rd Earl of Rosse, he notes that many of his claimed discoveries were made by one of his assistants. In the case of NGC 492, the discovery was made by Bindon Stoney, who discovered it along with NGC 486, NGC 490 and NGC 500 during his observation of NGC 488 using Lord Rosse's 72" telescope.

NGC 493 barred spiral galaxy in the constellation Cetus

NGC 493, also occasionally referred to as PGC 4979 or GC 281, is a barred spiral galaxy in the constellation Cetus. It is located approximately 90 million light-years from Earth and was discovered on December 20, 1786 by astronomer William Herschel. It was later also observed by his son, John Herschel. John Dreyer, creator of the New General Catalogue, described the galaxy as "very faint, large, much extended 60°" with "a little brighter middle".

NGC 494 galaxy

NGC 494, also occasionally referred to as PGC 5035 or GC 282, is a barred spiral galaxy in the constellation Pisces. It is located approximately 227 million light-years from Earth and was discovered on 22 November 1827 by astronomer John Herschel. John Dreyer, creator of the New General Catalogue, described the galaxy as "very faint, pretty large, extended, 3 faint stars to south".

NGC 495 galaxy

NGC 495, also occasionally referred to as PGC 5037, UGC 920 or GC 278, is a barred spiral galaxy in the constellation Pisces. It located approximately 184 million light-years from the Solar System and was discovered on 12 September 1784 by astronomer William Herschel.

NGC 496 galaxy

NGC 496, also occasionally referred to as PGC 5037, UGC 927 or GC 288, is a spiral galaxy in the constellation Pisces. It located approximately 250 million light-years from the Solar System and was discovered on 12 September, 1784 by astronomer William Herschel.

NGC 499 galaxy

NGC 499, also occasionally referred to as PGC 5060, IC 1686 or GC 289, is a lenticular galaxy in the constellation Pisces. It located approximately 197 million light-years from the Solar System and was discovered on 12 September, 1784 by astronomer William Herschel.

NGC 501 galaxy

NGC 501, also occasionally referred to as PGC 5082 or GC 284, is an elliptical galaxy in the constellation Pisces. It located approximately 224 million light-years from the Solar System and was discovered on 28 October, 1856 by Irish astronomer R. J. Mitchell.

NGC 503 galaxy

NGC 503, also occasionally referred to as PGC 5086 or GC 5169, is an elliptical galaxy in the constellation Pisces. It located approximately 265 million light-years from the Solar System and was discovered on 13 August 1863 by German astronomer Heinrich Louis d'Arrest.

NGC 504 galaxy

NGC 504, also occasionally referred to as PGC 5084 or UGC 935, is a lenticular galaxy located approximately 189 million light-years from the Solar System in the constellation Pisces. It was discovered on 22 November 1827 by astronomer John Herschel. The object was listed twice in the General Catalogue, precursor of the New General Catalogue, as both GC 291 and GC 292.

NGC 508 galaxy

NGC 508, also occasionally referred to as PGC 5099 or UGC 939, is an elliptical galaxy in the constellation Pisces. It located approximately 247 million light-years from the Solar System and was discovered on 12 September 1784 by British astronomer William Herschel.

NGC 511 galaxy

NGC 511, also occasionally referred to as PGC 5103 or UGC 936, is an elliptical galaxy in the constellation Pisces. It located approximately 499 million light-years from the Solar System and was discovered on 26 October 1876 by French astronomer Édouard Stephan.

NGC 512 galaxy

NGC 512, also occasionally referred to as PGC 5132 or UGC 944, is a spiral galaxy in the constellation Andromeda. It is located approximately 217 million light-years from the Solar System and was discovered on 17 November 1827 by astronomer John Herschel.

NGC 513 galaxy

NGC 513, also occasionally referred to as PGC 5174 or UGC 953, is a spiral galaxy in the constellation Andromeda. It is located approximately 262 million light-years from the Solar System and was discovered on 13 September 1784 by astronomer William Herschel.

NGC 515 galaxy

NGC 515, also occasionally referred to as PGC 5201 or UGC 956, is a lenticular galaxy located approximately 228 million light-years from the Solar System in the constellation Pisces. It was discovered on 13 September 1784 by astronomer William Herschel.

NGC 517 galaxy

NGC 517, also occasionally referred to as PGC 5214 or UGC 960, is a lenticular galaxy located approximately 188 million light-years from the Solar System in the constellation Pisces. It was discovered on 13 September 1784 by astronomer William Herschel.

NGC 521 galaxy

NGC 521, also occasionally referred to as PGC 5190 or UGC 962, is a spiral galaxy located approximately 224 million light-years from the Solar System in the constellation Cetus. It was discovered on 8 October 1785 by astronomer William Herschel.

NGC 522 galaxy

NGC 522, also occasionally referred to as PGC 5218 or UGC 970, is a spiral galaxy located approximately 122 million light-years from the Solar System in the constellation Pisces. It was discovered on 25 September 1862 by astronomer Heinrich Louis d'Arrest.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 "Revised NGC Data for NGC 486". spider.seds.org. Retrieved 2017-10-05.
  2. 1 2 "Your NED Search Results". ned.ipac.caltech.edu. Retrieved 2017-10-05.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 "New General Catalog Objects: NGC 450 - 499". cseligman.com. Retrieved 2018-03-30.
  4. 1 2 "astronomy-mall.com/Adventures.In.Deep.Space/NGC%201-7840%20complete.htm". Astronomy Mall.
  5. ↑ "Photos". www.klima-luft.de. Retrieved 2017-10-29.

Coordinates: Celestia.png 01h 21m 43.0s, 05° 20′ 47″

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