Centaurus A/M83 group | |
---|---|
Observation data (Epoch ) | |
Constellation(s) | Hydra, Centaurus, and Virgo[1] |
Right ascension | 13h 20m [2] |
Declination | −44° 58′[2] |
Brightest member | Centaurus A[3] |
Number of galaxies | 44[3] |
Other designations | |
NGC 5128 Group,[2] Centaurus A Group,[2] LGG 344[2] |
The Centaurus A/M83 Group is a complex group of galaxies in the constellations Hydra, Centaurus, and Virgo. The group may be roughly divided into two subgroups. The Cen A Subgroup, at a distance of 11.9 Mly (3.66 Mpc), is centered on Centaurus A, a nearby radio galaxy.[3] The M83 Subgroup, at a distance of 14.9 Mly (4.56 Mpc), is centered on the Messier 83 (M83), a face-on spiral galaxy.[3]
This group is sometimes identified as one group[4][5] and sometimes identified as two groups.[6] Hence, some references will refer to two objects named the Centaurus A Group and the M83 Group. However, the galaxies around Centaurus A and the galaxies around M83 are physically close to each other, and both subgroups appear not to be moving relative to each other.[3]
The Centaurus A/M83 Group is part of the Virgo Supercluster, the local supercluster of which the Local Group is an outlying member.