Astronomy:NGC 508

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Short description: Galaxy in the constellation Pisces
NGC 508
NGC 508
SDSS view of NGC 508
Observation data (J2000[1] epoch)
ConstellationPisces[2]
Right ascension 01h 23m 40.6s[3]
Declination+33° 16′ 49″[3]
Redshift0.01835 ± 0.00007[1]
Helio radial velocity(5451 ± 21) km/s[1]
Distance247 Mly[4]
Apparent magnitude (V)13.1[2]
Apparent magnitude (B)14.1[2]
Characteristics
TypeE[2]
Apparent size (V)1.1' × 1.1'[2]
Other designations
PGC 5099, UGC 939, GC 295, MGC +05-04-045, 2MASS J01234058+3316502 [1][5]

NGC 508, also occasionally referred to as PGC 5099 or UGC 939, is an elliptical galaxy in the constellation Pisces.[2] It is located approximately 247 million light-years from the Solar System[4] and was discovered on 12 September 1784 by British astronomer William Herschel.[5] [6]

Observation history

Herschel discovered NGC 508 along with NGC 507 and described the objects as "Two. Both eF, S, but unequal.". His observed position was catalogued and is accurate.[6] John Louis Emil Dreyer, creator of the New General Catalogue, described the galaxy as "very faint, small, northern of two", with the other object being NGC 507.[5]

Description

The galaxy has an apparent size of 1.1 × 1.1 arcmins and a recessional velocity of 5525 kilometers per second. It is thought to be a group member with NGC 507, but as there is no evidence of interaction between the objects, the two are not necessarily a physical pair. Although NGC 508 is usually treated as part of Arp 229, the description of the Arp-galaxy only applies to the larger NGC 507. Therefore, the term Arp 229 should only be used as an alternative designation for NGC 507.[5]

See also

References

External links


Coordinates: Sky map 01h 23m 40.6s, +33° 16′ 49″