| NGC 4709 | |
|---|---|
 legacy surveys image of NGC 4709 (large galaxy in the middle), as well as other galaxies of the Centaurus Cluster, includingNGC 4706. | |
| Observation data (J2000epoch) | |
| Constellation | Centaurus |
| Right ascension | 12h 50m 03.9s[1] |
| Declination | −41° 22′ 55″[1] |
| Redshift | 0.015604[1] |
| Heliocentric radial velocity | 4678 km/s[1] |
| Distance | 150 Mly (45 Mpc)[2] |
| Group orcluster | Centaurus Cluster (Cen 45 subgroup) |
| Apparent magnitude (V) | 12.0[1] |
| Characteristics | |
| Type | E1[1] |
| Size | ~127,700 ly (39.14 kpc) (estimated)[1] |
| Apparent size (V) | 2.4 x 2.0[1] |
| Other designations | |
| ESO 323-3, CCC 130, MCG -7-26-56, PGC 43423[1] | |
NGC 4709 is anelliptical galaxy[3] located in the constellationCentaurus.[4] It is considered to be a member of theCentaurus Cluster[5][6] and is the dominant member of a small group of galaxies known as "Cen 45"[7] which is currently merging with the mainCentaurus Cluster (Cen 30)[8] even though the two subclusters' line of sightredshift velocities differ by about 1500 km/s.[9] NGC 4709 was discovered by astronomerJames Dunlop on May 7, 1826.[10]
Lucey et al. suggests that NGC 4709 and the Cen 45 subgroup lie at about the same distance as the mainCentaurus Cluster[11][8] which is about 150 Mly (45 Mpc).[2]
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: others (link)