NGC 4261

NGC 4261

A X-ray image of NGC 4261.
Observation data (J2000 epoch)
Constellation Virgo
Right ascension 12h 19m 23.2s[1]
Declination +05° 49 31[1]
Redshift 0.007465[1]
Helio radial velocity 2238 ± 7 km/s[1]
Distance 96 ± 8 Mly (29.4 ± 2.6 Mpc)[2]
Type E2-3[1]
Apparent dimensions (V) 4.1 × 3.6[1]
Apparent magnitude (V) 11.4[1]
Other designations
UGC 7360,[1] PGC 39659[1]

NGC 4261 is an elliptical galaxy located behind the Virgo Cluster in the W-cloud.[3]

The active galactic nucleus (AGN) contains a 400 million solar mass supermassive black hole (SMBH)[4] with an 800 light-year-wide spiral-shaped disk of dust fueling it.[5]

The galaxy is estimated to be about 60 thousand light-years across,[6] and the jet is estimated to span about 88 thousand light-years.[7]

A Hubble Space Telescope (HST) image of the gas and dust disk in the active galactic nucleus of NGC 4261. Credit: HST/NASA/ESA.


See also

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 1.8 "NASA/IPAC Extragalactic Database". Results for NGC 4261. Retrieved 2007-03-30.
  2. Jensen, Joseph B.; Tonry, John L.; Barris, Brian J.; Thompson, Rodger I. et al. (February 2003). "Measuring Distances and Probing the Unresolved Stellar Populations of Galaxies Using Infrared Surface Brightness Fluctuations". Astrophysical Journal 583 (2): 712–726. arXiv:astro-ph/0210129. Bibcode:2003ApJ...583..712J. doi:10.1086/345430.
  3. Davis, David S.; Mushotzky; Mulchaey; Worrall et al. (1995). "Diffuse hot gas in the NGC 4261 group of galaxies". Astrophysical Journal 444 (2): 582–589. Bibcode:1995ApJ...444..582D. doi:10.1086/175632.
  4. "Massive Black Holes Dwell in Most Galaxies, According to Hubble Census". Hubblesite STScI-1997-01. 1997-01-13. Retrieved 2010-05-02.
  5. "Hubble Finds a New Black Hole - and Unexpected New Mysteries". Hubblesite STScI-1995-47. 1995-12-04. Retrieved 2010-05-02.
  6. "The Virgo Cluster". An Atlas of the Universe. Retrieved 2010-05-02.
  7. "The Giant Elliptical Galaxy NGC 4261". Astronomy 162 (Dept. Physics & Astronomy University of Tennessee). Retrieved 2010-05-02.
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