| NGC 4731 | |
|---|---|
.jpg) NGC 4731 (Hubble) | |
| Observation data (J2000epoch) | |
| Constellation | Virgo |
| Right ascension | 12h 51m 01.095s[1] |
| Declination | −06° 23′ 34.98″[1] |
| Heliocentric radial velocity | 1488.6 km/s[1] |
| Distance | 43 Mly |
| Apparent magnitude (B) | 12[1] |
| Characteristics | |
| Type | SBc |
| Other designations | |
| UGCA 302,MCG -01-33-026,PGC 43507[1] | |
NGC 4731 is abarred spiral galaxy located near theVirgo Supercluster. To its celestial south lies NGC 4731A, a small irregular galaxy.[2] Both galaxies feature high concentrations of neutral HI gas.[3] It is theorized that its elongated arm structure could be related to gravitational interactions with a nearby galaxy,NGC 4967. It is a member of theNGC 4697 Group of galaxies, which is a member of theVirgo II Groups, a series of galaxies andgalaxy clusters strung out from the southern edge of theVirgo Supercluster.[4]
On 2 April 1950 (theApril 1950 lunar eclipse) it was occulted by theMoon during aTotal Lunar Eclipse overEurope except the N and NE,Africa,Madagascar and theIndian Ocean. It happened again under those same conditions during theApril 1996 lunar eclipse over theNorth Atlantic,Europe, N and NEAfrica andSouthwest Asia. It will next happen on 4 April 2080 over NESiberia, NWNorth America, and thePacific Ocean includingHawaii.[5]: 160
