NGC 4473 explained

NGC 4473
Epoch:J2000
Type:E5[1]
Group Cluster:Virgo Cluster
Z:0.007485
H Radial V:2244 km/s
Appmag V:11.16
Size V:4.5' × 2.5'
Constellation Name:Coma Berenices
Names:CGCG 70-125, MCG 2-32-93, PGC 41228, UGC 7631, VCC 1231
Size:~ 68.5 kly (estimated); 21 kpc

NGC 4473 is an elliptical galaxy[2] located about 50 million light-years away[3] in the constellation of Coma Berenices.[4] It was discovered by astronomer William Herschel on April 8, 1784.[5] NGC 4473 has an inclination of about 71°.[6] NGC 4473 is a member of a chain of galaxies called Markarian's Chain which is part of the larger Virgo Cluster of galaxies.[7] [8]

Globular clusters

NGC 4473 has an estimated population of 376 ± 97 globular clusters.[9] The clusters may have formed from the result of multiple minor mergers that helped form the outer regions of the galaxy.

Counter–rotating features

NGC 4473 has two counter-rotating stellar discs embedded in the inner regions of the galaxy. They may have formed from the accretion of gas from outside the galaxy, or by the mergers of gas-rich galaxies.

Supermassive black hole

Using the HST and spectroscopic data from the ground to measure the motions of stars in the center of the galaxy, Douglas Richstone and colleagues at the University of Michigan have concluded that NGC 4473 has a supermassive black hole[10] with an estimated mass of roughly 100 million solar masses .[11] [12] Its diameter is estimated to be around 4.459 astronomical units (415 million mi).[13]

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: NASA/IPAC Extragalactic Database . Results for NGC 4473 . 2017-08-01.
  2. Web site: Your NED Search Results. ned.ipac.caltech.edu. 2017-08-01.
  3. Alabi. Adebusola B.. Foster. Caroline. Forbes. Duncan A.. Romanowsky. Aaron J.. Pastorello. Nicola. Brodie. Jean P.. Spitler. Lee R.. Strader. Jay. Usher. Christopher. 25 June 2015. The SLUGGS Survey: Globular cluster kinematics in a "double sigma" galaxy - NGC 4473. Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society. 452. 2. 2208–2219. 1506.07882. 2015MNRAS.452.2208A. 10.1093/mnras/stv1426. 62794454.
  4. Web site: Galaxy NGC 4473 - Galaxy in Coma Berenices Constellation · Deep Sky Objects Browser. Rojas. Sebastián García. DSO Browser. en. 2017-08-01. 2017-08-03. https://web.archive.org/web/20170803045516/https://dso-browser.com/deep-sky/5519/ngc-4473/galaxy. dead.
  5. Web site: New General Catalog Objects: NGC 4450 - 4499. cseligman.com. en-US. 2017-08-01.
  6. Schulze. Andreas. Gebhardt. Karl. Effect of a Dark Matter Halo on the Determination of Black Hole Masses. 1 March 2011. The Astrophysical Journal. 729:21. 1. 21. 10.1088/0004-637X/729/1/21. 1011.5077 . 2011ApJ...729...21S . 118421255.
  7. April 1978. Exploring the Coma-Virgo Cloud. GEMINI. 2:12. 1–9. 2017-08-03. 2014-09-25. https://web.archive.org/web/20140925201804/http://oldsite.mnastro.org/gemini/files/gemini_197804.pdf. dead.
  8. French. Sue. 2004. Deep-Sky Wonders: Markarian's Chain. Sky & Telescope. 107. 5. 88–91.
  9. Rhode. Katherine L.. 2012. Exploring the Correlations between Globular Cluster Populations and Supermassive Black Holes in Giant Galaxies. The Astronomical Journal. en. 144. 5. 154. 10.1088/0004-6256/144/5/154. 1538-3881. 1210.4570. 2012AJ....144..154R. 2022/19083. 118565802.
  10. Book: O'Meara, Stephen James. Deep-Sky Companions: The Secret Deep. 2011-06-30. Cambridge University Press. 978-1-139-50007-4. en.
  11. Web site: List of black hole candidates. www.johnstonsarchive.net. 2017-09-17.
  12. Web site: NGC 4473 Fact Sheet - StarDate's Black Hole Encyclopedia. blackholes.stardate.org. en. 2017-08-02.
  13. Web site: WolframAlpha: Computational Knowledge Engine. www.wolframalpha.com. en-us. 2017-10-28.

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