NGC 4603 is aspiral galaxy located about 107[2] millionlight years away in theconstellationCentaurus. It is a member of theCentaurus Cluster of galaxies, belonging to the section designated "Cen30". The morphological classification is SA(s)c,[4] which indicates it is a pure spiral galaxy with relatively loosely wound arms.[5]
During 1999, this galaxy was the subject of an extended study using theHubble Space Telescope to locateCepheid variable stars. A total of43±7 were found, and the measurement of their periodicity gave a net distance estimate of108.7+5.5 −4.9 Mly (33.3+1.7 −1.5 Mpc). This is consistent with the distance estimate determined throughredshift measurements. As of the time of this study, NGC 4603 was the most distant galaxy for which a distance estimate had been made using Cepheid variable.[6]
On May 21, 2008, supernovaSN 2008cn was discovered at a position 23.″2 north and 4.″7 east of the galaxy center. It was determined to be a high-luminosityType II-P supernova, with a progenitor tentatively identified as ared supergiant with 15 ± 2solar masses. Based upon the yellowish color, it may have been a member of abinary star system.[7]
^abSkrutskie, Michael F.; Cutri, Roc M.; Stiening, Rae; Weinberg, Martin D.; Schneider, Stephen E.; Carpenter, John M.; Beichman, Charles A.; Capps, Richard W.; Chester, Thomas; Elias, Jonathan H.; Huchra, John P.; Liebert, James W.; Lonsdale, Carol J.; Monet, David G.; Price, Stephan; Seitzer, Patrick; Jarrett, Thomas H.; Kirkpatrick, J. Davy; Gizis, John E.; Howard, Elizabeth V.; Evans, Tracey E.; Fowler, John W.; Fullmer, Linda; Hurt, Robert L.; Light, Robert M.; Kopan, Eugene L.; Marsh, Kenneth A.; McCallon, Howard L.; Tam, Robert; Van Dyk, Schuyler D.; Wheelock, Sherry L. (1 February 2006)."The Two Micron All Sky Survey (2MASS)".The Astronomical Journal.131 (2):1163–1183.Bibcode:2006AJ....131.1163S.doi:10.1086/498708.ISSN0004-6256.S2CID18913331.
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