NGC 4709

NGC 4709 is an elliptical galaxy^[3] located in the constellation Centaurus.^[4] It is considered to be a member of the Centaurus Cluster^[5][6] and is the dominant member of a small group of galaxies known as "Cen 45"^[7] which is currently merging with the main Centaurus Cluster (Cen 30)^[8] even though the two subclusters' line of sight redshift velocities differ by about 1500 km/s.^[9] NGC 4709 was discovered by astronomer James Dunlop on May 7, 1826.^[10]

NGC 4709
legacy surveys image of NGC 4709 (large galaxy in the middle), as well as other galaxies of the Centaurus Cluster, including NGC 4706.
Observation data (J2000 epoch)
Constellation	Centaurus
Right ascension	12h 50m 03.9s[1]
Declination	−41° 22′ 55″[1]
Redshift	0.015604[1]
Heliocentric radial velocity	4678 km/s[1]
Distance	150 Mly (45 Mpc)[2]
Group or cluster	Centaurus Cluster (Cen 45 subgroup)
Apparent magnitude (V)	12.0[1]
Characteristics
Type	E1[1]
Size	~127,700 ly (39.14 kpc) (estimated)[1]
Apparent size (V)	2.4 x 2.0[1]
Other designations
ESO 323-3, CCC 130, MCG -7-26-56, PGC 43423[1]

Distance estimates

Lucey et al. suggests that NGC 4709 and the Cen 45 subgroup lie at about the same distance as the main Centaurus Cluster^[11][8] which is about 150 Mly (45 Mpc).^[2]

See also

• List of NGC objects (4001–5000)
• NGC 4696