NGC 87

NGC 87
NGC 87, a warped galaxy in Robert's Quartet
Observation data (J2000 epoch)
ConstellationPhoenix
Right ascension00h 21m 14.2133s
Declination−48° 37′ 42.81″
Redshift0.011391
Heliocentric radial velocity3415 ± 23 km/s
Distance154.7 ± 11.0 Mly (47.44 ± 3.36 Mpc)
Apparent magnitude (V)14.1
Characteristics
TypeIBm pec
Size~51,500 ly (15.80 kpc) (estimated)
Apparent size (V)0.9′ × 0.7′
Other designations
ESO 194-G008, PGC 1357

NGC 87 is a diffuse, irregular galaxy located approximately 155 million light-years away in the southern constellation of Phoenix. It was discovered on September 30, 1834, by the English astronomer John Herschel.

Physical characteristics

NGC 87 is classified morphologically as a diffuse irregular galaxy, displaying a lack of a distinct central nucleus or organized spiral structure. At its distance of 155 million light-years, its angular size corresponds to a physical diameter of roughly 42,000 light-years, making it about 40% the size of the Milky Way.

Unlike its spiral and lenticular companions, NGC 87 contains significant reservoirs of cold neutral hydrogen gas and active H II regions. Its asymmetric appearance and chaotic star-forming areas are driven by tidal interactions with nearby galactic companions.

Group membership

The galaxy is a member of Robert's Quartet, a compact galaxy group located in Phoenix that also includes NGC 88, NGC 89, and NGC 90. The four member galaxies reside within a region spanning roughly 150,000 light-years across and exhibit active gravitational interactions.

Supernova

One supernova has been observed in NGC 87:

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "NED results for object NGC 0087". National Aeronautics and Space Administration / Infrared Processing and Analysis Center. Retrieved 19 February 2017.
  2. 1 2 3 "NASA/IPAC Extragalactic Database Results for NGC 0087". NASA/IPAC. Retrieved 19 February 2017.
  3. ↑ Sinnott, Roger W. (1988). NGC 2000.0: The Complete New General Catalogue and Index Catalogues of Nebulae and Star Clusters by J. L. E. Dreyer. Sky Publishing Corporation. ISBN 978-0-933346-51-2.
  4. 1 2 Madore, Barry F.; Nelson, Eric; Petrillo, Kristen (May 2009). "Atlas and Catalog of Collisional Ring Galaxies". The Astrophysical Journal Supplement Series. 181 (2): 572–604. arXiv:0902.4629. Bibcode:2009ApJS..181..572M. doi:10.1088/0067-0049/181/2/572.
  5. 1 2 "Cosmic Portrait of a Perturbed Family". ESO News. European Southern Observatory. November 4, 2005. Retrieved August 16, 2026.
  6. ↑ Wassilieff, A.; Williams, G. V.; Phillips, M. M.; Maza, J.; Gomez, X.; Benetti, S.; Hasinger, G. (1994). "Supernova 1994Z in NGC 87". International Astronomical Union Circular (6087): 1. Bibcode:1994IAUC.6087....1W.
  7. ↑ "SN 1994Z". Transient Name Server. IAU. Retrieved 7 December 2024.