NGC 4402

NGC 4402
Observation data (J2000 epoch)
Constellation Virgo[1]
Right ascension 12h 26m 07.6s
Declination +13° 6 48
Redshift 232 ± 6 km/s
Distance 55 Mly
Apparent magnitude (V) 12.55
Characteristics
Type G

NGC 4402 is a relatively near, edge-on spiral galaxy located around 55 million light-years from Earth. It is in the constellation of Virgo within the Virgo Cluster of galaxies. It can be seen when viewing Markarian's Chain.

NGC 4402 is roughly 55 thousand light-years wide and is moving away from Earth at around 232 kilometers per second. It is falling into the Virgo galaxy cluster. Images show evidence that the material it once contained to enable it to form stars has been stripped away in a process known as "ram-pressure stripping". This is due to NGC 4402's cooler gasses being struck by hot x-ray gasses coming from the middle of the Virgo galaxy cluster as it moves toward it. The evidence is as follows:[2][3] [4]

The supernova SN 1976B was observed in NGC 4402 in 1976.[3][4]

Gallery

  1. ^ Eso.org. "Messier 87 in the Virgo Cluster". www.eso.org. Retrieved 4 October 2015. 

References

  1. "NED results for object NGC 4402". caltech.edu. Retrieved 4 October 2015.
  2. "National Optical Astronomy Observatory". noao.edu. Retrieved 4 October 2015.
  3. 1 2 "NGC 4402, an edge-on spiral galaxy in Virgo - Anne's Astronomy News". annesastronomynews.com. Retrieved 4 October 2015.
  4. 1 2 "NOAO Press Release 04-06: Galaxy Cleaned Out by Encounter with Hot Cluster Gas". noao.edu. Retrieved 4 October 2015.

Further reading


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