A galaxy is a system of stars, stellar remnants, interstellar gas, dust, and dark matter bound together by gravity. The word is derived from the Greek galaxias (γαλαξίας), literally 'milky', a reference to the Milky Way galaxy that contains the Solar System. Galaxies, averaging an estimated 100 million stars, range in size from dwarfs with less than a thousand stars, to the largest galaxies known – supergiants with one hundred trillion stars, each orbiting its galaxy's center of mass. Most of the mass in a typical galaxy is in the form of dark matter, with only a few percent of that mass visible in the form of stars and nebulae. Supermassive black holes are a common feature at the centres of galaxies.
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.
NGC 1260 is a spiral or lenticular galaxy located 250 million light years away from earth in the constellation Perseus. It was discovered by astronomer Guillaume Bigourdan on 19 October 1884. NGC 1260 is a member of the Perseus Cluster and forms a tight pair with the galaxy PGC 12230. This galaxy is dominated by a population of many old stars.
NGC 3190 is a spiral galaxy with tightly wound arms and lying in the constellation Leo. It was discovered by William Herschel in 1784. NGC 3190 is member of Hickson 44 galaxy group, estimated at around 80 million light years away, and consisting of four galaxies in a tight group - NGC 3193 is fairly featureless, NGC 3187 is a dim but striking spiral galaxy and NGC 3185 has a barred spiral structure with an outer ring. It is also a member of the NGC 3190 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 4762 is an edge-on lenticular galaxy in the constellation Virgo. It is at a distance of 60 million light years and is a member of the Virgo Cluster. The edge-on view of this particular galaxy, originally considered to be a barred spiral galaxy, makes it difficult to determine its true shape, but it is considered that the galaxy consists of four main components — a central bulge, a bar, a thick disc and an outer ring. The galaxy's disc is asymmetric and warped, which could be explained by NGC 4762 merging with a smaller galaxy in the past. The remains of this former companion may then have settled within NGC 4762's disc, redistributing the gas and stars and so changing the disc's morphology.
NGC 7013 is a relatively nearby spiral or lenticular galaxy estimated to be around 37 to 41.4 million light-years away from Earth in the constellation of Cygnus. NGC 7013 was discovered by English astronomer William Herschel on July 17, 1784 and was also observed by his son, astronomer John Herschel on September 15, 1828.
NGC 7079 is a barred lenticular galaxy located about 110.58 million light-years away in the constellation of Grus. NGC 7079 is also classified as a LINER galaxy. It is tilted about 51° to the Earth's line of sight. NGC 7079 was discovered by astronomer John Herschel on September 6, 1834.
NGC 471 is a lenticular galaxy located about 168 million light-years away from Earth in the constellation Pisces. It was discovered by the German astronomer Albert Marth on November 3, 1864.
NGC 6028 is a barred lenticular galaxy and a ring galaxy located about 200 million light-years away in the constellation Hercules. Ring galaxies such as NGC 6028 are also known as Hoag-type galaxies as they may have a resemblance to the prototype, Hoag's Object. NGC 6028 was discovered by astronomer William Herschel on March 14, 1784. It was then rediscovered by astronomer Guillaume Bigourdan on May 4, 1886.
NGC 6039 is a massive lenticular galaxy located about 460 million light-years away in the constellation Hercules. NGC 6039 was discovered by astronomer Édouard Stephan on June 27, 1870 and later rediscovered by astronomer Lewis Swift on June 27, 1886. NGC 6039 is member of the Hercules Cluster, which is part of the CfA2 Great Wall.
NGC 6040 is a spiral galaxy located about 550 million light-years away in the constellation Hercules. NGC 6040 was discovered by astronomer Édouard Stephan on June 27, 1870. NGC 6040 is interacting with the lenticular galaxy PGC 56942. As a result of this interaction, NGC 6040's southern spiral arm has been warped in the direction toward PGC 56942. NGC 6040 and PGC 56942 are both members of the Hercules Cluster.
NGC 612 is a lenticular galaxy in the constellation of Sculptor located approximately 388 million light-years from Earth. It is a type II Seyfert galaxy and thus has an active galactic nucleus. NGC 612 has been identified as an extremely rare example of a non-elliptical radio galaxy, hosting one of the nearest powerful FR-II radio sources.
NGC 759 is an elliptical galaxy located 230 million light-years away in the constellation Andromeda. NGC 759 was discovered by astronomer by Heinrich d'Arrest on September 17, 1865. It is a member of Abell 262.
NGC 903 is a lenticular galaxy in the constellation Aries. It is estimated to be about 230 million light-years from the Milky Way and has a diameter of approximately 35,000 ly. NGC 903 was discovered on 13 December 1884 by the astronomer Edouard Stephan.
NGC 814 is a lenticular galaxy in the constellation Cetus. It is estimated to be about 70 million light-years from the Milky Way and has a diameter of approximately 30,000 ly. NGC 814 was discovered on January 6, 1886, by the American astronomer Ormond Stone.
NGC 913 is a lenticular galaxy located in the constellation Andromeda about 224 million light years from the Milky Way. It was discovered by French astronomer Édouard Stephan in 1878.
NGC 998 is a spiral galaxy in the constellation Cetus. It is estimated to be 294 million light years from the Milky Way and has a diameter of approximately 90,000 ly. Together with NGC 997, it forms a gravitationally bound pair of galaxies. NGC 998 was discovered by astronomer Albert Marth on 10 November 1863 using a 48-inch telescope.
NGC 991 is an intermediate spiral galaxy the constellation Cetus. This galaxy was discovered by astronomer William Herschel in 1785.
NGC 713 is a spiral galaxy located in the constellation of Cetus about 234 million light years from the Milky Way. It was discovered by the American astronomer Francis Leavenworth in 1886.
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.
