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NGC 4305 | |
---|---|
Observation data (J2000 epoch) | |
Constellation | Virgo |
Right ascension | 12h 22m 03.6s[1] |
Declination | 12° 44′ 27″[1] |
Redshift | 0.006298[1] |
Heliocentric radial velocity | 1888 km/s[1] |
Distance | 98 Mly (30 Mpc)[1] |
Apparent magnitude (V) | 13.4[1] |
Characteristics | |
Type | SA(r)a[1] |
Size | ~32,000 ly (9.7 kpc) (estimated)[1] |
Apparent size (V) | 2.07 x 0.97[1] |
Other designations | |
UGC 07432, VCC 0522, PGC 040030, MCG +02-32-013[1] |
NGC 4305 is a dwarf spiral galaxy[2] located about 100 million light-years away[3] in the constellation Virgo. The galaxy was discovered by astronomer John Herschel on May 2, 1829.[4] Although considered to be a member of the Virgo Cluster,[2][5] its high radial velocity and blue luminosity suggest it is in fact a background galaxy.[6] The galaxy has a nearby major companion; NGC 4306.[6]
NGC 4305 exhibits well-defined, smooth spiral arms which terminate well outside its central bulge.[7] This spiral structure appears to have been induced by a tidal interaction with NGC 4306.[8][9] Such a tidal interaction would also explain its deficiency in neutral hydrogen gas (HI).[6]