NGC 4709 | |
---|---|
Observation data (J2000 epoch) | |
Constellation | Centaurus |
Right ascension | 12h 50m 03.9s[1] |
Declination | −41° 22′ 55″[1] |
Redshift | 0.015604[1] |
Heliocentric radial velocity | 4678 km/s[1] |
Distance | 150 Mly (45 Mpc)[2] |
Group or cluster | Centaurus Cluster (Cen 45 subgroup) |
Apparent magnitude (V) | 12.0[1] |
Characteristics | |
Type | E1[1] |
Size | ~127,700 ly (39.14 kpc) (estimated)[1] |
Apparent size (V) | 2.4 x 2.0[1] |
Other designations | |
ESO 323-3, CCC 130, MCG -7-26-56, PGC 43423[1] |
NGC 4709 is an elliptical galaxy[3] located in the constellation Centaurus.[4] It is considered to be a member of the Centaurus Cluster[5][6] and is the dominant member of a small group of galaxies known as "Cen 45"[7] which is currently merging with the main Centaurus Cluster (Cen 30)[8] even though the two subclusters' line of sight redshift velocities differ by about 1500 km/s.[9] NGC 4709 was discovered by astronomer James Dunlop on May 7, 1826.[10]
Lucey et al. suggests that NGC 4709 and the Cen 45 subgroup lie at about the same distance as the main Centaurus Cluster[11][8] which is about 150 Mly (45 Mpc).[2]