| NGC 493 | |
| Upright: | 1.35 |
| Epoch: | J2000 |
| Constellation Name: | Cetus |
| Z: | 0.007799 ± 0.000017 |
| H Radial V: | (+2329 ± 5) km/s |
| Dist Ly: | 90 Mly |
| Type: | SAB(s)cd? |
| Appmag V: | 12.2 |
| Size V: | 4.3′ × 1.7′ |
| Names: | PGC 4979, GC 281, UGC 914, 2MASS J01220898+0056432, Z 385.84, MGC +00-04-099, IRAS 01195+0041, H 3.594, h 105 |
NGC 493, also occasionally referred to as PGC 4979 or GC 281, is a barred spiral galaxy in the constellation Cetus.[1] It is located approximately 90 million light-years from Earth and was discovered on December 20, 1786 by astronomer William Herschel.[2] It was later also observed by his son, John Herschel. John Dreyer, creator of the New General Catalogue, described the galaxy as "very faint, large, much extended 60°" with "a little brighter middle".[3]
Two supernovae have been observed in NGC 493: SN 1971S (mag. 15.5)[4] and SN 2016hgm (type II, mag. 17.9).[5]