Galaxy NGC 278

NGC 278
NGC 278: Image taken with Hubble Space Telescope. © 2163 ESA/Hubble & NASA and S. Smartt [633]

History

This galaxy was discovered by William Herschel on 11th December 1786 using his 18.7 inch reflector. He cataloged it as I 159 and noted: «Very bright, round, very gradually brighter in the middle, 1.5' diameter.» [464] Dreyer added it as NGC 278 to his «New General Catalogue» published in 1888. [313]

Physical Properties

NGC 278 is a galaxy currently undergoing an immense burst of star formation. But the star forming regions do not extend to the galaxy’s outer edges. It is only taking place within an inner ring some 6500 light-years across. It is thought to have been caused by a merger with a smaller, gas-rich galaxy that ignited only the centre of the galacy and dusty remains dispersed into the outer regions. The distance to NGC 278 is around 40 million light years. [633]

Revised+Historic NGC/IC, Version 22/9, © Dr. Wolfgang Steinicke [277]
DesignationNGC 278
TypeGx (SBb)
Right Ascension (J2000.0)00h 52m 04.5s
Declination (J2000.0)+47° 33' 03"
Diameter2.1 × 2 arcmin
Photographic (blue) magnitude11.5 mag
Visual magnitude10.8 mag
Surface brightness12.2 mag·arcmin-2
Position Angle12°
Redshift0.002090
Distance derived from z8.83 Mpc
Metric Distance11.800 Mpc
Dreyer DescriptioncB, pL, R, 2 st 10 nr
Identification, RemarksUGC 528, MCG 8-2-16, CGCG 550-16, IRAS 00492+4716

Finder Chart

The galaxy NGC 278 is located in the constellation Cassiopeia. The best observation time is July to January, when this in Europe circumpolar constellation is highest in the sky.

Finder Chart Galaxy NGC 278
Galaxy NGC 278 in constellation Cassiopeia. Charts created using SkySafari 6 Pro and STScI Digitized Sky Survey. Limiting magnitudes: Constellation chart ~6.5 mag, DSS2 close-ups ~20 mag. [149, 160]

Visual Observation

Description pending ...

More Objects Nearby (±15°)

References