Galaxies NGC 2591, NGC 2655, NGC 2715
History
The galaxy NGC 2655 was discovered by William Herschel on 26 September 1802 using his selfmade reflecting telescope with 18.7 inch aperture and 20 feet focal length. He listed it as «bright nebula» I 288 and noted: «Very bright, considerably large, little extended, suddeny much brighter in the middle.» [465] On 21 August 1828 the galaxy was observed by John Herschel who listed it as h 520 and the notes: «Very bright; little extended, in parallel; pretty suddeny much brighter in the middle, to a nucleas = a star 12 magnitudes; 30". Has a large star preceding and another following, at a considerable distance.» [466]
The galaxy NGC 2591 was discovered by Heinrich d'Arrest on 12 August 1866 using the 11-inch f/17.5 Merz refractor at Copenhagen Observarory. The galaxy NGC 2715 was discovered by Alphonse Borrelly around 1871 using a 7.2-inch comet-seeker at Marseilles Observatory. [277, 364]
Physical Properties
The nucleus of the lenticular galaxy NGC 2655 exhibits pronounced luminosity, leading to its classification as a Seyfert galaxy, a subclass of active galactic nuclei characterized by prominent emission-line spectra. This nuclear emission is generally attributed to accretion processes, whereby material is funneled onto the disc surrounding a central supermassive black hole. In contrast, the outer disc displays a comparatively quiescent morphology, though its irregular structure suggests a history of dynamical disturbance. The kinematics of the interstellar gas within NGC 2655 indicate a complex evolutionary history, likely involving merger events and gravitational interactions with companion systems. The galaxy resides at an approximate distance of 80 million light-years from the Milky Way. [744]
| Name | RA | Dec | Type | bMag | vMag | B-V | SB | Dim | PA | z | D(z) | MD | Dreyer Description | Identification, Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NGC 2591 | 08 37 25.5 | +78 01 32 | Gx (Sc) | 12.9 | 12.2 | 0.7 | 12.7 | 3 × 0.6 | 32 | 0.004413 | 18.64 | 20.560 | F, S, E, lbM | GC 5418; UGC 4472; MCG 13-7-1; CGCG 349-29; CGCG 350-1; IRAS 08307+7811 |
| NGC 2655 | 08 55 37.7 | +78 13 25 | Gx (SB0-a) | 11.0 | 10.1 | 0.9 | 13.2 | 4.9 × 4.1 | 85 | 0.004670 | 19.73 | 24.400 | vB, cL, lE 90°, gsvmbM | WH I 288; h 520; GC 1691; UGC 4637; MCG 13-7-10; CGCG 349-33; IRAS 08491+7824; CGCG 350-7; Arp 225 |
| NGC 2715 | 09 08 05.9 | +78 05 09 | Gx (SBc) | 11.8 | 11.2 | 0.6 | 13.4 | 4.8 × 1.6 | 22 | 0.004466 | 18.86 | 20.400 | pB, L, E | GC 5443; UGC 4759; MCG 13-7-15; CGCG 350-12; IRAS 09018+7817 |
Finder Chart
The galaxies NGC 2591, NGC 2655 and NGC 2715 are located in the constellation Camelopardalis. On 1 February these are in opposition with the Sun and is therefore highest in the sky at local midnight.
