| NGC 2642 | |
| Constellation Name: | Hydra |
| Epoch: | J2000 |
| Type: | SB(r)bc[1] |
| Dist Ly: | NaNMpc |
| Z: | 0.014473 |
| H Radial V: | 4339 ± 5 km/s |
| Appmag V: | 12.6 |
| Size V: | 2.0' x 1.8' |
| Size: | ~43.17kpc (estimated) |
NGC 2642 is a barred spiral galaxy in the constellation of Hydra. Its velocity with respect to the cosmic microwave background is 4632 ± 21 km/s, which corresponds to a Hubble distance of 68.32 ± 4.79 Mpc (∼223 million light-years). It was discovered by British astronomer John Herschel on 19 February 1830.[2]
According to the SIMBAD database, NGC 2642 is a Seyfert I galaxy, i.e. it has a quasar-like nuclei with very high surface brightnesses whose spectra reveal strong, high-ionisation emission lines, but unlike quasars, the host galaxy is clearly detectable.[3]
Three supernovae have been observed in NGC 2642: SN 2002fj (type IIn, mag. 15.8),[4] SN 2008bh (type II, mag. 16.3),[5] and SN 2023aaby (type Ic, mag. 17.9).[6]