| NGC 474 | |
|---|---|
 AHubble Space Telescope image of NGC 474 | |
| Observation data (J2000[1]epoch) | |
| Constellation | Pisces[2] |
| Right ascension | 01h 20m 06.7s[1] |
| Declination | +03° 24′ 58″[1] |
| Redshift | 0.007755[1] |
| Heliocentric radial velocity | 2325 km/s ±7 km/s[1] |
| Galactocentric velocity | 2398 km/s ±7 km/s[1] |
| Distance | ~100 Mly (~31 Mpc)[2] |
| Characteristics | |
| Type | S0[3] |
| Size | 250,000 ly (diameter)[4] |
| Other designations | |
| Arp 227,MCG 0-4-85,PGC 4801,UGC 864, ZWG 385.71[3] | |
NGC 474 is anelliptical galaxy about 100 millionlight years distant in theconstellationPisces. This large galaxy is known to possess tidal shells[5] andtidal tails, although their origins remain unclear.[2] One possible explanation is that NGC 474 interacted with a galaxy several billion years ago.[6]
The origins of the spectacular tidal features around NGC 474 have been extensively studied, and some possible explanations have been published. The authors of one study argued that the tidal tails were formed because of a collision with a galaxy 2 billion years ago.[6] The same study also stated that NGC 474 is absorbing gas from its neighbor,NGC 470, since the ancient collision.[6] In another model, the tidal shells can be explained by a gas-richspiral galaxy colliding with NGC 474 twice, before finally merging.[5] NGC 474 is moving away from the Sun at a rate of 2412 km/s due todark energy.[7]
In July 2017 aType Ia supernova designatedSN 2017fgc was discovered in NGC 474.[8] It was located at a considerable distance from thegalactic nucleus.[9]
Media related toNGC 474 at Wikimedia Commons.jpg) | Thislenticular galaxy article is astub. You can help Wikipedia byadding missing information. |
