| NGC 495 | |
|---|---|
 SDSS view of NGC 495 | |
| Observation data (J2000[1]epoch) | |
| Constellation | Pisces[2] |
| Right ascension | 01h 22m 56.0s[3] |
| Declination | +33° 28′ 18″[3] |
| Redshift | +0.013679 ± 0.000073[1] |
| Heliocentric radial velocity | (4073 ± 22) km/s[1] |
| Distance | 184Mly[4] |
| Apparent magnitude (V) | 13.0[2] |
| Characteristics | |
| Type | SB0-a[2] |
| Apparent size (V) | 1.2' × 0.8'[2] |
| Other designations | |
| PGC 5037,UGC 920,GC 278,MCG 5-4-35,2MASS J01225595+3328171,H 3.156,[2][1][5] | |
NGC 495, also occasionally referred to asPGC 5037,UGC 920 orGC 278, is abarred spiral galaxy in the constellationPisces.[2] It is located approximately 184 million light-years from theSolar System[4] and was discovered on 12 September 1784 byastronomerWilliam Herschel.[5]
The object was discovered by Herschel along withNGC 496 andNGC 499. He initially described the discovery as "Three [NGC 495 along with NGC 496 and 499], eS and F, forming a triangle.". As he observed the trio again the next night, he was able to make out more detail: "Three, forming a [right triangle]; the [right angle] to the south NGC 499, the short leg preceding[NGC 495], the long towards the north [NGC 496]. Those in the legs [NGC 495 and 496] the faintest imaginable; that at the rectangle [NGC 499] a deal larger and brighter, but still very faint."[6]
NGC 495 was later also observed by Heinrich d'Arrest and Herman Schultz[5] who first noted the object's accurate position. This position is also noted in theNew General Catalogue.[6]
Onesupernova has been observed in NGC 495: SN 1999ej (type Ia, mag. 18.1).[7]
John Dreyer, creator of theNew General Catalogue, uses Herschel's initial notation to describe the position of NGC 495 ("very faint, small, 1st of 3").[5]
Modern observations however call NGC 495 a bright central galaxy with an apparent size of about 1.2' by 0.8'. It also includes fainter outer extensions, about 2.6' by 1.5'.[5] The galaxy is also classified as a barred spiral galaxy ofHubble type SB0-a.[2]
