NGC 4051

[ilan]

NGC 4051 Captured 22 May 2016

NGC 4051 is a Spiral Galaxy (note the spiral arms), and it is also classified as a Seyfert Galaxy, meaning its core emits a strong amount of energy. Studies indicate it has a supermassive black hole at the core. That is the largest type of black hole. NGC 4051 is 35 million light years from earth. That's so far away that I doubt there is a Walmart nearby. In fact, if my math is correct, if I headed out in my 1966 Volkswagon Beetle at 60 mph, it would take me 391,452,612,918,569 years to get there. That's over 391 trillion years. Aunt Bea had better pack me plenty of sandwiches. NGC 4051 is in the constellation Ursa Major. The hot ionized hydrogen gas in those sweeping spiral arms is creating new stars as we speak. I've been trying to identify the bright star at the lower left, but so far have come up short.

[Capt.Kangaroo]

Might be HIP 58767
NGC.jpg

[ilan]

By Jove, I bet you nailed it. The positions look spot on. Great detective work, Cap. Thanks!

[Capt.Kangaroo]

By Jove, I bet you nailed it. The positions look spot on. Great detective work, Cap. Thanks!

No problem, Stellarium is pretty handy.

[ilan]

There is a little competition from HD 104813/Tycho-2 3019-405-1.

[Capt.Kangaroo]

Its Tycho 2. Good work buddy...

[ilan]

I kind of think so, too... HD 104813 is in Ursa Major as is NGC 4051, whereas HD 104655 is in Aquila.