NGC 4492

NGC 4492 is a spiral galaxy^[4] located about 90 million light-years away ^[2] in the constellation Virgo.^[5] NGC 4492 was discovered by astronomer William Herschel on December 28, 1785. It was rediscovered by astronomer Arnold Schwassmann on January 23, 1900, and was listed as IC 3438.^[6] NGC 4492 lies in the direction of the Virgo Cluster. However, it is not considered to be a member of that cluster.^[7]

NGC 4492
NGC 4492 imaged by the Vera C. Rubin Observatory
Observation data (J2000 epoch)
Constellation	Virgo
Right ascension	12h 30m 59.7s[1]
Declination	08° 04′ 40″[1]
Redshift	0.005804/1740 km/s[1]
Distance	90,950,000 ly[2][3]
Apparent magnitude (V)	13.0[1]
Characteristics
Type	SA(s)a?[1]
Size	~33,450 ly (estimated)[1]
Apparent size (V)	1.58 x 1.25[1]
Other designations
IC 3438, PGC 41383, UGC 7656, VCC 1330[1]

Physical characteristics

NGC 4492 has a relatively large bulge while showing signs of weak spiral structure.^[7] The spiral arms are also outlined by lanes of interstellar dust.^[8]

Virgo Cluster membership

NGC 4492 is listed in the Virgo Cluster Catalog as VCC 1330.^[8] However, distance estimates to the galaxy place it at a location far outside of the cluster's center.^[2][7] Also, its radial velocity indicates that NGC 4492 is not gravitationally bound to the Virgo Cluster but is expanding away from it. Therefore, NGC 4492 is not a member of the Virgo Cluster but rather a background galaxy.^[7]

See also

• List of NGC objects (4001–5000)
• NGC 524
• NGC 613
• NGC 5248
• NGC 1079