NGC 4861

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NGC 4861
NGC 4861 - HST- Potw1704a.tif
Hubble Space Telescope image of NGC 4861, taken using the Advanced Camera for Surveys
Observation data (J2000 epoch)
Constellation Canes Venatici
Right ascension 12h 59m 02.340s [1]
Declination +34° 51′ 33.98″ [1]
Redshift 0.002785 [2]
Heliocentric radial velocity 835 [2]
Distance 34.77 ± 15.99  Mly (10.662 ± 4.903  Mpc) [2]
Group or cluster Virgo Cluster
Apparent magnitude  (V)12.32
Apparent magnitude  (B)12.90
Characteristics
Type SB(s)m [2]
Im/BCD
Apparent size  (V)0.797′ × 0.692′ [1]
Other designations
Arp 266, UGC 8098, MCG+06-29-003, PGC 44536 [3]

NGC 4861, also known as Arp 266, is a galaxy in the constellation Canes Venatici. It was discovered by William Herschel on May 1, 1785. [4]

Contents

Morphological classification of NGC 4861 has proved relatively difficult. Its mass, size, and rotational velocity are consistent with it being a spiral galaxy. However, due to its highly irregular shape, it may also be classified as a dwarf irregular galaxy. [5] In fact, since dwarf galaxies are less massive and have lower gravitational potentials, gases and other material for star formation can move within them much faster, causing the galaxy to become a specific type of starburst galaxy, called a blue compact dwarf galaxy. [5] [3] It has also been described as a "comet-like" galaxy due to its resemblance to a comet. [6]

Two ultraluminous X-ray sources (ULXs) have been found within NGC 4861. The first, NGC 4861 X1, is associated with a dense H II region. The second, NGC 4861 X2, seems to be within a small star cluster near the "comet head" of NGC 4861. Assuming it is a star cluster, it has a mass of 400±80  M☉ and an age of 5 million years. Compared to other star clusters with which ULXs are associated, its mass is quite low. [6]

See also

Related Research Articles

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">NGC 922</span> Peculiar galaxy in the constellation Fornax

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">NGC 5011</span> Galaxy in the constellation Centaurus

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References

  1. 1 2 3 Skrutskie, Michael F.; Cutri, Roc M.; Stiening, Rae; Weinberg, Martin D.; Schneider, Stephen E.; Carpenter, John M.; Beichman, Charles A.; Capps, Richard W.; Chester, Thomas; Elias, Jonathan H.; Huchra, John P.; Liebert, James W.; Lonsdale, Carol J.; Monet, David G.; Price, Stephan; Seitzer, Patrick; Jarrett, Thomas H.; Kirkpatrick, J. Davy; Gizis, John E.; Howard, Elizabeth V.; Evans, Tracey E.; Fowler, John W.; Fullmer, Linda; Hurt, Robert L.; Light, Robert M.; Kopan, Eugene L.; Marsh, Kenneth A.; McCallon, Howard L.; Tam, Robert; Van Dyk, Schuyler D.; Wheelock, Sherry L. (1 February 2006). "The Two Micron All Sky Survey (2MASS)". The Astronomical Journal. 131 (2): 1163–1183. Bibcode:2006AJ....131.1163S. doi: 10.1086/498708 . ISSN   0004-6256. S2CID   18913331.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "NED results for object NGC 4861". National Aeronautics and Space Administration / Infrared Processing and Analysis Center . Retrieved 4 February 2017.
  3. 1 2 "NGC 4861". SIMBAD . Centre de données astronomiques de Strasbourg . Retrieved 4 February 2017.
  4. ↑ Courtney Seligman. "New General Catalog Objects: NGC 4500 - 4599" . Retrieved 4 February 2017.
  5. 1 2 "Starbirth with a chance of winds?". www.spacetelescope.org. Retrieved 4 February 2017.
  6. 1 2 Ela, M Ozdogan; Akyuz, A.; Aksaker, N.; Avdan, S.; Oralhan, I Akkaya; Vinokurov, A.; Allak, S.; Solovyeva, Y.; Atapin, K.; Bizyaev, D. (2021). "Optical counterparts of ULXs in two dwarf galaxies: NGC 4861 and NGC 4449". Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society. 505: 771–782. arXiv: 2105.02302 . doi:10.1093/mnras/stab1321.
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