NGC 4666

NGC 4666
The superwind galaxy NGC 4666
Observation data (J2000 epoch)
ConstellationVirgo
Right ascension12h 45m 08.676s[1]
Declination−00° 27′ 42.88″[1]
Heliocentric radial velocity1,517 km/s[2]
Distance54.89 ± 0.65 Mly (16.83 ± 0.20 Mpc)[3]
Apparent magnitude (V)10.8[4]
Characteristics
TypeSABc[2]
Apparent size (V)4′.6 × 1'.3[2]
Notable featuresStarburst
Other designations
NGC 4666, IRAS F12425-0011, MCG+00-33-008, MRC 1242-001, PMN J1245-0027, UGC 7926, UZC J124508.0-002744, PGC 42975[5]

NGC 4666 is a spiral galaxy in the equatorial constellation of Virgo, located at a distance of approximately 55 megalight-years from the Milky Way.[3] It was discovered by the German-born astronomer William Herschel on February 22, 1784. It is a member of the Virgo II Groups, a series of galaxies and galaxy clusters strung out from the southern edge of the Virgo Supercluster.[6] John L. E. Dreyer described it as "bright, very large, much extended 45°±, pretty suddenly brighter middle".[7] It is a member of an interacting system with NGC 4668 and a dwarf galaxy,[8] and belongs to a small group that also includes NGC 4632.[2]

The morphological classification of this galaxy is SABc, which indicates a weak bar around the nucleus with moderately wound spiral arms. Viewed nearly edge-on, its galactic plane is inclined at an angle of 85°±2° to the line of sight from the Earth, with the major axis aligned along a position angle of 40°. There is an active galactic nucleus that shows a modest level of activity and is most likely heavily obscured by gas and dust. The central point source has been detected in the radio and X-ray bands.[2]

This is a starburst galaxy that is noteworthy for its vigorous star formation, which creates an unusual superwind[9] of out-flowing gas. This wind is not visible at optical wavelengths, but is prominent in X-rays, and has been observed by the ESA XMM-Newton space telescope.[10] The estimated star formation rate is 7.3 M☉ yr–1, with a density of 8.9×10−3 M☉ yr−1 kpc−2. Unlike in many other starburst galaxies, the star formation is spread across the disk rather than being more concentrated.[2]

Three supernovae have been observed in NGC 4666. On 23 May 1965, Enrique Chavira discovered SN 1965H (type IIP, mag. 14).[11] A type Ia supernova was detected in NGC 4666 on 9 December 2014;[12][13] ASASSN-14lp is located 12″ from the center of NGC 4666. A type Ib supernova, SN 2019yvr, was detected on 27 December 2019.[14] It has a 0.005 redshift. Images of the location of the supernova before the explosion showed the progenitor star was ~19M☉.[15]

Enlarged view of the center of NGC 4666 by the Hubble Space Telescope
  1. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference Skrutskie2006 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ a b c d e f Cite error: The named reference Stein2019 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference Tully2013 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ Cite error: The named reference seds was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ Cite error: The named reference SIMBAD was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  6. ^ "The Virgo III Groups". Atlas of the Universe. Retrieved 2010-11-27.
  7. ^ Cite error: The named reference cseligman was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  8. ^ Cite error: The named reference Walter2004 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  9. ^ Cite error: The named reference ESO1036 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  10. ^ Cite error: The named reference ESAC313 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  11. ^ Transient Name Server entry for SN 1965H. Retrieved 23 March 2023.
  12. ^ Cite error: The named reference AT6795 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  13. ^ Cite error: The named reference RA was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  14. ^ Cite error: The named reference TNS was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  15. ^ Cite error: The named reference Kilpatrick21 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).