NGC 4459 is a lenticular galaxy located about 50 million light-years away[2] in the constellation of Coma Berenices.[3] NGC 4459 is also classified as a LINER galaxy.[2] NGC 4459 was discovered by astronomer William Herschel on January 14, 1787.[4] NGC 4459 is a member of the Virgo Cluster.[5]

Physical characteristics

Dust disk

NGC 4459 has a central flocculent dust disk that surrounds an inner ring.[6][7] Also, there appears to be evidence of ongoing star formation in the disk .[7]

Super massive black hole

NGC 4459 has a supermassive black hole with an estimated mass of roughly 70 million suns (7×107 M☉). Its diameter is estimated to be around 2.87 astronomical units[8] (266.4 million mi).[9]

2MASS image of NGC 4459

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g "NASA/IPAC Extragalactic Database". Results for NGC 4459. Retrieved 2017-08-20.
  2. ^ a b "Your NED Search Results". ned.ipac.caltech.edu. Retrieved 2017-08-22.
  3. ^ Rojas, Sebastián García. "Galaxy NGC 4459 - Galaxy in Coma Berenices Constellation · Deep Sky Objects Browser". DSO Browser. Archived from the original on 2017-08-22. Retrieved 2017-08-22.
  4. ^ "New General Catalog Objects: NGC 4450 - 4499". cseligman.com. Retrieved 2017-08-18.
  5. ^ "Detailed Object Classifications". ned.ipac.caltech.edu. Retrieved 2017-08-22.
  6. ^ Young, Lisa M.; Bureau, Martin; Cappellari, Michele (23 December 2007). "Structure and Kinematics of Molecular Disks in Fast‐Rotator Early‐Type Galaxies". The Astrophysical Journal. 676: 317–334. arXiv:0712.4189. doi:10.1086/529019. S2CID 119215566.
  7. ^ a b Young, Lisa M.; Bendo, George J.; Lucero, Danielle M. (13 January 2009). "Mid- to Far-Infrared Emission and Star Formation in Early-Type Galaxies". The Astronomical Journal. 137 (2): 3053–3070. arXiv:0811.1381. Bibcode:2009AJ....137.3053Y. doi:10.1088/0004-6256/137/2/3053. S2CID 1996780.
  8. ^ "List of black hole candidates". www.johnstonsarchive.net. Retrieved 2017-08-20.
  9. ^ "2.8662 Astronomical unit - Wolfram|Alpha Results". m.wolframalpha.com. Retrieved 2017-10-21.

External links