NGC 2721

NGC 2721
NGC 2721 imaged by Legacy Surveys
Observation data (J2000 epoch)
ConstellationHydra
Right ascension08h 58m 56.5367s[1]
Declination−04° 54′ 06.677″[1]
Redshift0.012399±0.00000900[1]
Heliocentric radial velocity3,717±3 km/s[1]
Distance190.90 ± 7.29 Mly (58.531 ± 2.235 Mpc)[1]
Apparent magnitude (V)12.5[1]
Characteristics
TypeSB(rs)bc pec[1]
Size~133,200 ly (40.83 kpc) (estimated)[1]
Apparent size (V)2.3′ × 1.6′[1]
Other designations
IRAS 08564-0442, 2MASX J08585649-0454072, MCG -01-23-015, PGC 25231[1]

NGC 2721 is a barred spiral galaxy in the constellation of Hydra. Its velocity with respect to the cosmic microwave background is 4,028±22 km/s, which corresponds to a Hubble distance of 193.8 ± 13.6 Mly (59.41 ± 4.17 Mpc).[1] Additionally, 13 non-redshift measurements give a similar mean distance of 190.90 ± 7.29 Mly (58.531 ± 2.235 Mpc).[2] It was discovered by German-British astronomer William Herschel on 1 February 1786.[3][4]

NGC 2721 is a Seyfert II galaxy, i.e. it has a quasar-like nucleus with very high surface brightnesses whose spectra reveal strong, high-ionisation emission lines, but unlike quasars, the host galaxy is clearly detectable.[5][6]

Supernova

One supernova has been observed in NGC 2721:

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k "Results for object NGC 2721". NASA/IPAC Extragalactic Database. NASA and Caltech. Retrieved 19 January 2026.
  2. ^ "Distance Results for NGC 2721". NASA/IPAC Extragalactic Database. NASA. Retrieved 19 January 2026.
  3. ^ Herschel, William (1789). "Catalogue of a Second Thousand of New Nebulae and Clusters of Stars; with a Few Introductory Remarks on the Construction of the Heavens". Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London. 79: 212–255. Bibcode:1789RSPT...79..212H. doi:10.1098/rstl.1789.0021.
  4. ^ Seligman, Courtney. "New General Catalogue Objects: NGC 2721". Celestial Atlas. Retrieved 19 January 2026.
  5. ^ Chen, Yan-Ping; Zaw, Ingyin; Farrar, Glennys R.; Elgamal, Sana (2022). "A Uniformly Selected, Southern-sky 6dF, Optical AGN Catalog". The Astrophysical Journal Supplement Series. 258 (2): 29. arXiv:2111.13217. Bibcode:2022ApJS..258...29C. doi:10.3847/1538-4365/ac4157.
  6. ^ "NGC 2721". SIMBAD. Centre de données astronomiques de Strasbourg. Retrieved 19 January 2026.
  7. ^ "SN 2024xjl". Transient Name Server. IAU. Retrieved 19 January 2026.
  • Media related to NGC 2721 at Wikimedia Commons
  • NGC 2721 on WikiSky: DSS2, SDSS, GALEX, IRAS, Hydrogen α, X-Ray, Astrophoto, Sky Map, Articles and images