Messier 49

Messier 49
Galaxy Messier 49 in Virgo
Observation data (J2000 epoch)
ConstellationVirgo
Right ascension12h 29m 46.7s[1]
Declination+08° 00′ 02″[1]
Redshift0.003326±0.000022[1]
Heliocentric radial velocity997±7 km/s[1]
Galactocentric velocity929±7 km/s[1]
Distance55.9 ± 2.3 Mly (17.14 ± 0.71 Mpc)
Apparent magnitude (V)8.4[2]
Characteristics
TypeE2,[1] LINER[1]
Size47.81 kiloparsecs (156,000 light-years)
(diameter; 25.0 mag/arcsec2 B-band isophote)[1]
Apparent size (V)10.2 × 8.3 moa[1]
Other designations
NGC 4472,[1] UGC 7629,[1] PGC 41220,[1] Arp 134[1]
References: SIMBAD: Search M49

Messier 49 (also known as M49 or NGC 4472) is a giant elliptical galaxy about 56 million light-years away in the equatorial constellation of Virgo. This galaxy was discovered by astronomer Charles Messier in 1777.[a]

As an elliptical galaxy, Messier 49 has the physical form of a radio galaxy, but it only has the radio emission of a normal galaxy. From the detected radio emission, the core region has roughly 1053 erg (1046 J or 1022 YJ) of synchrotron energy.[3] The nucleus of this galaxy is emitting X-rays, suggesting the likely presence of a supermassive black hole with an estimated mass of 5.65 × 108 solar masses, or 565 million times the mass of the Sun (M☉).[4][b] X-ray emissions shows a structure to the north of Messier 49 that resembles a bow shock. To the southwest of the core, the luminous outline of the galaxy can be traced out to a distance of 260 kpc.[5] The only supernova event seen within it is SN 1969Q (type unknown, mag. 13),[6][7] discovered 1 June 1969.[8][c]

This galaxy has many globular clusters: estimated to be about 5,900. This is far more than the roughly 200 orbiting the Milky Way, but dwarfed by the 13,450 orbiting the supergiant elliptical galaxy Messier 87. On average, the globular clusters of M49 are about 10 billion years old.[9] Between 2000 and 2009, strong evidence for a stellar mass black hole was discovered in one. A second candidate was announced in 2011.[10]

Messier 49 was the first member of the Virgo Cluster of galaxies to be discovered.[11] It is the most luminous member of that cluster and more luminous than any galaxy closer to the Earth. This galaxy forms part of the smaller Virgo B subcluster 4.5° away from the dynamic center of the Virgo Cluster, centered on Messier 87.[9][12] Messier 49 is gravitationally interacting with the dwarf irregular galaxy UGC 7636.[5] The dwarf shows a trail of debris spanning roughly 1 × 5 arcminutes, which corresponds to a physical dimension of 6 × 30 kpc.[13]

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Cite error: The named reference ned was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ "Messier 49". SEDS Messier Catalog. Retrieved April 29, 2022.
  3. ^ Cite error: The named reference aaa67_1_47 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ Cite error: The named reference apj555_1_L21 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference apj471_683 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  6. ^ Transient Name Server entry for SN 1969Q. Retrieved 21 June 2024.
  7. ^ Cite error: The named reference nedsupernovae was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  8. ^ Cite error: The named reference barbonetal1984 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  9. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference apj592_2_866 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  10. ^ Cite error: The named reference mnras410_3_1655 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  11. ^ Cite error: The named reference thompson2007 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  12. ^ Cite error: The named reference carnegieatlas was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  13. ^ Cite error: The named reference aj108_3_844 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).


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