| NGC 496 | |
|---|---|
 SDSS view of NGC 496 | |
| Observation data (J2000[1]epoch) | |
| Constellation | Pisces[2] |
| Right ascension | 01h 23m 11.6s[3] |
| Declination | +33° 31′ 45″[3] |
| Redshift | +0.020258 ± 0.000093[1] |
| Heliocentric radial velocity | (6011.7 ± 27.8) km/s[1] |
| Distance | 250Mly[4] |
| Apparent magnitude (V) | 13.4[2] |
| Characteristics | |
| Type | Sbc[2] |
| Apparent size (V) | 1.6' × 0.9'[2] |
| Other designations | |
| PGC 5061,UGC 927,GC 288,MCG 5-4-36,2MASS J01231161+3331452,H 3.157,IRAS 01203+3316,CGCG 502-60, KUG 0120+332A[2][1][5] | |
NGC 496, also occasionally referred to asPGC 5037,UGC 927 orGC 288, is aspiral galaxy in the constellationPisces.[2] It is located approximately 250 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 495 andNGC 499. He initially described the discovery as "Three [NGC 496 along with NGC 495 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 496], the long towards the north [NGC 495]. Those in the legs [NGC 496 and 495] the faintest imaginable; that at the rectangle [NGC 499] a deal larger and brighter, but still very faint."[6]
NGC 496 was later also observed byBindon Blood Stoney.[5] This position is also noted in theNew General Catalogue.[6]
