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| NGC 6240 | |
|---|---|
 NGC 6240 imaged by the Hubble Space Telescope. At the centre there are three supermassive black holes spiraling closer and closer to one another.[1] | |
| Observation data (J2000 epoch) | |
| Constellation | Ophiuchus |
| Right ascension | 16h 52m 58.9s[2] |
| Declination | +02° 24′ 03″[2] |
| Redshift | 7339 ± 9 km/s[2] |
| Distance | 400 Mly |
| Apparent magnitude (V) | 12.8[2] |
| Characteristics | |
| Type | I0 pec[2] |
| Apparent size (V) | 2.1′ × 1.1′[2] |
| Notable features | merger remnant |
| Other designations | |
| IC 4625,[2] UGC 10592,[2] PGC 59186,[2] VV 617[2] | |
NGC 6240, also known as the Starfish Galaxy, is a nearby ultraluminous infrared galaxy (ULIRG) in the constellation Ophiuchus. It was discovered by French astronomer Édouard Stephan on 12 July 1871.[3]
The galaxy is the remnant of a merger between three smaller galaxies. The collision between the three progenitor galaxies has resulted in a single, larger galaxy with three distinct nuclei and a highly disturbed structure, including faint extensions and loops.[4]
- ^ "Hubble revisits tangled NGC 6240". Retrieved 12 June 2015.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j "NASA/IPAC Extragalactic Database". Results for NGC 6240. Retrieved 2006-08-16.
- ^ Seligman, Courtney. "New General Catalogue Objects: NGC 6240". Celestial Atlas. Retrieved 28 August 2024.
- ^ Fried, J. W.; Schulz, H. (1983). "NGC 6240 – A unique interacting galaxy". Astronomy and Astrophysics. 118: 166–170. Bibcode:1983A&A...118..166F.