NGC 6744

NGC 6744
Wide Field Imager view of a Milky Way look-alike NGC 6744
Observation data (J2000 epoch)
ConstellationPavo
Right ascension19h 09m 46.1785s[1]
Declination−63° 51′ 26.992″[1]
Redshift0.002805[1]
Heliocentric radial velocity841 ± 2 km/s[1]
Distance23.63 ± 1.68 Mly (7.244 ± 0.514 Mpc)[2]
Group or clusterVirgo Supercluster
Apparent magnitude (V)9.14[1]
Characteristics
TypeSAB(r)bc[1] II[citation needed]
Apparent size (V)20′.0 × 12′.9[1]
Other designations
Caldwell 101, ESO 104- G 042, IRAS 19051-6357, PGC 62836[1]

NGC 6744 (also known as Caldwell 101 or the Pavo Galaxy[3]) is an intermediate spiral galaxy in the constellation Pavo (Peacock). Its velocity with respect to the cosmic microwave background is 802 ± 3 km/s, which corresponds to a Hubble distance of 38.6 ± 2.7 Mly (11.82 ± 0.83 Mpc).[1] However, 21 non redshift measurements give a distance of 23.63 ± 1.68 Mly (7.244 ± 0.514 Mpc).[2] It was discovered on 30 June 1826 by Scottish astronomer James Dunlop, observing from Parramatta, Australia.[4]

One of the largest spiral galaxies, NGC 6744 is considered as a Milky Way mimic in the immediate vicinity, displaying flocculent (fluffy) arms and an elongated core.[5][6] It also has at least one distorted companion galaxy (NGC 6744A) superficially similar to one of the Magellanic Clouds.[7]

NGC 6744 is a LINER galaxy, i.e. its nucleus has an emission spectrum characterized by broad lines of weakly ionized atoms.[6] Also, the galaxy has an active galactic nucleus (AGN) of low luminosity.[6]

NGC 6744 lies within the Virgo Supercluster.[8][9]

Two supernovae have been observed in NGC 6744. R. Martin and Berto Monard discovered SN 2005at (type Ic, mag. 16) on 15 March 2005.[10] BlackGEM discovered another astronomical transient, designated SN 2024vjm, on 13 September 2024.[11] After initial Spectral analysis, the star was classified as a peculiar nova, but further observations showed the object to be a faint type Iax supernova, likely the closest known of this type.[12][13][14]

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i "NASA/IPAC Extragalactic Database". Results for NGC 6744. Retrieved 31 August 2006.
  2. ^ a b "Distance Results for NGC 6744". NASA/IPAC Extragalactic Database. Retrieved 19 June 2010.
  3. ^ Stoyan, Ronald; Schurig, Stephan (2014). interstellarum Deep Sky Atlas. Erlangen: Cambridge University Press; Oculum-Verlag GmbH. ISBN 978-1-107-50338-0. OCLC 920437579.
  4. ^ Seligman, Courtney. "NGC Objects: NGC 6700–6749". cseligman.com. Retrieved 14 February 2019.
  5. ^ "Euclid's new image of spiral galaxy NGC 6744". www.esa.int. Retrieved 11 November 2024.
  6. ^ a b c Silva, Patrícia da; Steiner, J. E.; Menezes, R. B. (2018). "NGC 6744: A Nearby Milky Way Twin with a Very Low-luminosity AGN". The Astrophysical Journal. 861 (2): 83. arXiv:1807.02604. Bibcode:2018ApJ...861...83D. doi:10.3847/1538-4357/aac6e3.
  7. ^ "NASA/IPAC Extragalactic Database". Results for NGC 6744A. Retrieved 19 June 2010.
  8. ^ P. Fouque; E. Gourgoulhon; P. Chamaraux; G. Paturel (1992). "Groups of galaxies within 80 Mpc. II – The catalogue of groups and group members". Astronomy and Astrophysics Supplement. 93: 211–233. Bibcode:1992A&AS...93..211F.
  9. ^ "Nearby Groups of Galaxies". ned.ipac.caltech.edu. Retrieved 4 May 2018.
  10. ^ Transient Name Server entry for SN 2005at. Retrieved 26 March 2023.
  11. ^ "Discovery certificate for object 2024vjm". Transient Name Server. IAU. Retrieved 15 September 2024.
  12. ^ "SN 2024vjm". Transient Name Server. IAU. Retrieved 15 September 2024.
  13. ^ "AstroNote 2024-258". Transient Name Server. IAU. Retrieved 15 September 2024.
  14. ^ "AstroNote 2024-265". Transient Name Server. IAU. Retrieved 20 September 2024.