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NGC 977

NGC 977
NGC 977 imaged by Legacy Surveys
Observation data (J2000 epoch)
ConstellationCetus
Right ascension02h 33m 03.4241s[1]
Declination−10° 45′ 35.544″[1]
Redshift0.015274±0.0000370[1]
Heliocentric radial velocity4,579±11 km/s[1]
Distance217.00 ± 17.56 Mly (66.533 ± 5.384 Mpc)[1]
Group or clusterNGC 945 group (LGG 63)
Apparent magnitude (V)13.5[1]
Characteristics
Type(R')SAB(r)a[1]
Size~126,300 ly (38.71 kpc) (estimated)[1]
Apparent size (V)1.9′ × 1.6′[1]
Other designations
2MASX J02330342-1045361, MCG -02-07-031, PGC 9713[1]

NGC 977 is a intermediate spiral galaxy in the constellation of Cetus. Its velocity with respect to the cosmic microwave background is 4,356±19 km/s, which corresponds to a Hubble distance of 209.6 ± 14.7 Mly (64.25 ± 4.51 Mpc).[1] Additionally, six non-redshift measurements give a similar mean distance of 217.00 ± 17.56 Mly (66.533 ± 5.384 Mpc).[2] It was discovered by German-British astronomer William Herschel on 28 November 1785.[3][4]

NGC 977 is a Seyfert II galaxy, i.e. it has a quasar-like nucleus with very high surface brightnesses whose spectra reveal strong, high-ionisation emission lines, but unlike quasars, the host galaxy is clearly detectable.[5][6]

NGC 945 group

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NGC 977 is a member of the NGC 945 group (also known as LGG 63), which contains at least seven galaxies. The other members of the group are NGC 945, NGC 948, NGC 950, MCG -02-07-020, MCG -02-07-032, and MCG -02-07-033.[7][8]

Supernova

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One supernova has been observed in NGC 977:

  • SN 1976J (type unknown, mag. 15.5) was discovered by Italian astronomer Leonida Rosino on 15 December 1976.[9][10] Although it was never officially classfied, its light curve suggested that it was a Type I supernova.[11]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k "Results for object NGC 0977". NASA/IPAC Extragalactic Database. NASA and Caltech. Retrieved 25 December 2025.
  2. ^ "Distance Results for NGC 0977". NASA/IPAC Extragalactic Database. NASA. Retrieved 25 December 2025.
  3. ^ Herschel, William (1789). "Catalogue of a Second Thousand of New Nebulae and Clusters of Stars; with a Few Introductory Remarks on the Construction of the Heavens". Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London. 79: 212–255. Bibcode:1789RSPT...79..212H. doi:10.1098/rstl.1789.0021.
  4. ^ Seligman, Courtney. "New General Catalogue Objects: NGC 977". Celestial Atlas. Retrieved 25 December 2025.
  5. ^ Chen, Yan-Ping; Zaw, Ingyin; Farrar, Glennys R.; Elgamal, Sana (2022). "A Uniformly Selected, Southern-sky 6dF, Optical AGN Catalog". The Astrophysical Journal Supplement Series. 258 (2): 29. arXiv:2111.13217. Bibcode:2022ApJS..258...29C. doi:10.3847/1538-4365/ac4157.
  6. ^ "NGC 977". SIMBAD. Centre de données astronomiques de Strasbourg. Retrieved 25 December 2025.
  7. ^ "LGG 63". SIMBAD. Centre de données astronomiques de Strasbourg. Retrieved 25 December 2025.
  8. ^ Garcia, A. M. (1993). "General study of group membership. II. Determination of nearby groups". Astronomy and Astrophysics Supplement Series. 100: 47. Bibcode:1993A&AS..100...47G.
  9. ^ Rosino, L. (1976). "Supernova in NGC 977". International Astronomical Union Circular (3021): 1. Bibcode:1976IAUC.3021....1R.
  10. ^ "SN 1976J". Transient Name Server. IAU. Retrieved 25 December 2025.
  11. ^ Wegner, G. (1979). "Photometry of the supernovae in NGC 488 and NGC 977". The Astronomical Journal. 84: 502. Bibcode:1979AJ.....84..502W. doi:10.1086/112442.
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  • Media related to NGC 977 at Wikimedia Commons
  • NGC 977 on WikiSky: DSS2, SDSS, GALEX, IRAS, Hydrogen α, X-Ray, Astrophoto, Sky Map, Articles and images