NGC 4478

NGC 4478
SDSS image of NGC 4478.
Observation data (J2000 epoch)
Constellation Virgo
Right ascension 12h 30m 17.4s[1]
Declination 12° 19′ 43″[1]
Redshift 0.004500/1349 km/s[1]
Distance 52.2 Mly[2]
Group or cluster Virgo Cluster
Apparent magnitude (V) 12.36[1]
Characteristics
Type E2[1]
Size ~30,000 ly (estimated)[1]
Apparent size (V) 1.9 x 1.6[1]
Other designations
CGCG 70-133, MCG 2-32-99, PGC 41297, UGC 7645, VCC 1279[1]

NGC 4478 is a elliptical galaxy located about 50 million light-years away[3] in the constellation Virgo.[4] NGC 4478 was discovered by astronomer William Herschel on April 12, 1784.[5] NGC 4478 is a member of the Virgo Cluster.[6]

Nuclear disk

Using Hubble images, it has been indicated that NGC 4478 has a central nuclear disk.[7]

Metallicity

In NGC 4478, the central regions of the galaxy are high in metals while having a low overabundance of the element Iron. In contrast, the outer regions of the galaxy are low in metals while having a high overabundance in Iron.[7]

Globular clusters

NGC 4478 has a typical sub-population of metal-poor globular clusters. However, it has a lack of metal-rich clusters. The lack of metal-rich clusters in other galaxies is usually attributed to accretion, or mergers with other galaxies. The only other known elliptical that has been shown to have a domination of metal-poor globular clusters is the giant galaxy NGC 4874 which is located in the center of the Coma Cluster.[2]

Reduced population

Due to tidal truncation caused by Messier 87, a significant amount of globular clusters have been striped away from NGC 4478 and have become members of Messier 87‘s globular cluster system.[8]

Interaction with Messier 87

NGC 4478 is likely to be a companion of the giant elliptical Messier 87. The two galaxies are separated from each other by about 130,400 Light-years (40 kpc). NGC 4478 has been tidally truncated by Messier 87.[2]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "NASA/IPAC Extragalactic Database". Results for NGC 4478. Retrieved 2017-10-15.
  2. 1 2 3 Kissler-Patig, M.; Brodie, J. P.; Minniti, D. (4 June 2002). "Extragalactic globular clusters in the near infrared. I. A comparison between M87 and NGC 4478" (PDF). Astronomy & Astrophysics. 391: 441–452. arXiv:astro-ph/0206140. Bibcode:2002A&A...391..441K. doi:10.1051/0004-6361:20020831.
  3. ↑ "Your NED Search Results". ned.ipac.caltech.edu. Retrieved 2017-10-15.
  4. ↑ Rojas, Sebastián García. "Galaxy NGC 4478 - Elliptical Galaxy in Virgo Constellation · Deep Sky Objects Browser". DSO Browser. Retrieved 2017-10-15.
  5. ↑ "New General Catalog Objects: NGC 4450 - 4499". cseligman.com. Retrieved 2017-10-08.
  6. ↑ "Detailed Object Classifications". ned.ipac.caltech.edu. Retrieved 2017-10-15.
  7. 1 2 Morelli, L.; Halliday, C.; Corsini, E. M.; Pizzella, A.; Thomas, D.; Saglia, R. P.; Davies, R. L.; Bender, R.; Birkinshaw, M.; Bertola, F. (19 July 2004). "Nuclear stellar discs in low-luminosity elliptical galaxies: NGC 4458 and 4478" (PDF). Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society. 354: 753–762. arXiv:astro-ph/0408084. Bibcode:2004MNRAS.354..753M. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2966.2004.08236.x.
  8. ↑ NEILSEN, JR., ERIC H.; TSVETANOV, ZLATAN I.; FORD, HOLLAND C. (6 February 1997). "THE SURFACE BRIGHTNESS FLUCTUATIONS AND GLOBULAR CLUSTER POPULATION OF NGC 4478". The Astrophysical Journal. 483: 745–753. arXiv:astro-ph/9712339. Bibcode:1997ApJ...483..745N. doi:10.1086/304267.
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