NGC 3227

NGC 3227
Hubble Space Telescope image of NGC 3227 (left) and NGC 3226 (right)
Observation data (J2000 epoch)
ConstellationLeo
Right ascension10h 23m 30.6s[1]
Declination+19° 51′ 54″[1]
Redshift1157 ± 3 km/s[1]
Distance77 ± 9 Mly (24 ± 3 Mpc)[2]
Apparent magnitude (V)11.1[1]
Characteristics
TypeSAB(s) pec[1]
Apparent size (V)5.4′ × 3.6′[1]
Other designations
UGC 5620,[1] PGC 30445,[1] Arp 94[1]

NGC 3227 is an intermediate spiral galaxy that is interacting with the dwarf elliptical galaxy NGC 3226. The two galaxies are one of several examples of a spiral with a dwarf elliptical companion that are listed in the Atlas of Peculiar Galaxies.[3] Both galaxies may be found in the constellation Leo. It is a member of the NGC 3227 Group of galaxies, which is a member of the Leo II Groups, a series of galaxies and galaxy clusters strung out from the right edge of the Virgo Supercluster.[4]

Sir William Herschel already recognised them as a 'double nebula'[citation needed] and they were jointly listed as Holm 187 in the Catalogue of Double and Multiple Galaxies and as Arp 94 in the Atlas of Peculiar Galaxies. Amateur telescopes can discern them but require magnification of about 100 times. They are situated 50′ east of the well-known double star system Gamma Leonis (i.e. Algieba).

One supernova has been observed in NGC 3227: SN 1983U (type Ia, mag. 12).[5][6]

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i "NASA/IPAC Extragalactic Database". Results for NGC 3227. Retrieved 2006-10-12.
  2. ^ J. L. Tonry; A. Dressler; J. P. Blakeslee; E. A. Ajhar; et al. (2001). "The SBF Survey of Galaxy Distances. IV. SBF Magnitudes, Colors, and Distances". Astrophysical Journal. 546 (2): 681–693. arXiv:astro-ph/0011223. Bibcode:2001ApJ...546..681T. doi:10.1086/318301. S2CID 17628238.
  3. ^ H. Arp (1966). "Atlas of Peculiar Galaxies". Astrophysical Journal Supplement. 14: 1–20. Bibcode:1966ApJS...14....1A. doi:10.1086/190147.
  4. ^ "The Leo III Groups". Atlas of the Universe. Archived from the original on July 22, 2012. Retrieved 2010-11-27.
  5. ^ Transient Name Server entry for SN 1983U. Retrieved 28 March 2023.
  6. ^ Circular No 3887 Central Bureau for Astronomical Telegrams. Retrieved 28 March 2023.