Astronomy:NGC 6861

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Short description: Lenticular galaxy in the constellation Telescopium
NGC 6861
The third way of galaxies.jpg
NGC 6861
Observation data (J2000 epoch)
ConstellationTelescopium[1]
Right ascension 20h 07m 19.48s[2]
Declination−48° 22′ 12.8″[2]
Redshift0.009437[2]
Apparent magnitude (V)11.0[1]
Characteristics
TypeSA0^-(s):[2]
Apparent size (V)3 × 2[1]
Other designations
IC 4949[1]

NGC 6861 is a lenticular galaxy located in the constellation Telescopium. It is the second-brightest object in the constellation. Unlike most lenticular galaxies, which tend to be mostly devoid of both gas and dust, NGC 6861 exhibits a thick obscuring ring of dust around the nucleus where star formation is occurring. The galaxy was discovered by Scottish astronomer James Dunlop, in 1826.[3] NGC 6861 is interacting with NGC 6868, and it is predicted that they will eventually merge.[4]

References

External links