NGC 1309

NGC 1309
Hubble Space Telescope (HST) image of NGC 1309
Observation data (J2000.0 epoch)
ConstellationEridanus
Right ascension03h 22m 06.5s [1]
Declination−15° 24′ 00″ [1]
Redshift0.007125 (2136 +/- 4 km/s) [1]
Distance120 Mly (36 Mpc) [2]
Apparent magnitude (V)12.0 [1]
Characteristics
TypeSA(s)bc [1]
Apparent size (V)2.2 x 2.0 arcmin[1]
Other designations
PGC 012626
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NGC 1309 is a spiral galaxy located approximately 120 million light-years away, appearing in the constellation Eridanus. It is about 75,000 light-years across, and is about 3/4s the width of the Milky Way. Its shape is classified as SA(s)bc, meaning that it has moderately wound spiral arms and no ring. Bright blue areas of star formation can be seen in the spiral arms, while the yellowish central nucleus contains older-population stars. NGC 1309 is one of over 200 members of the Eridanus Group of galaxies.[3]

  1. ^ a b c d e f "NASA/IPAC Extragalactic Database". Results for NGC 1309. Retrieved 8 Dec 2008.
  2. ^ Riess, Adam (Jul 2007). "The Final SHOE; Completing a Rich Cepheid Field in NGC 1309". Hubble Space Telescope Proposal ID #11329 (Cycle 16): 11329. Bibcode:2007hst..prop11329R.
  3. ^ "Hubble Snaps Images of a Pinwheel-Shaped Galaxy". News Release: STScI-2006-07. NASA. Retrieved 8 Dec 2008.