NGC 4546 is a lenticular field galaxy located in the direction of the constellation Virgo,[2] with a total population of globular clusters estimated at about 390.[3] It is a member of the Virgo II Groups, a series of galaxies and galaxy clusters strung out from the southern edge of the Virgo Supercluster.[4]
NGC 4546 | |
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Observation data (J2000.0 epoch) | |
Constellation | Virgo |
Right ascension | 12h 35m 29.5s[1] |
Declination | −03° 47′ 35.5″[1] |
Redshift | 0.003492 |
Heliocentric radial velocity | 1057 ± 5 km/s[1] |
Distance | 45.6 Mly |
Apparent magnitude (V) | 10.57[1] |
Characteristics | |
Type | SB0−[1] |
Other designations | |
PGC 41939, MCG-1-32-27, UGC 288 |
Located 45.6 million light years away, with a stellar mass of about 27 billion solar masses,[1] it has a declination of -03° 47' 35" and an average rise of 12 hours, 35 minutes and 29.5 seconds.[5] NGC 4546 was discovered on December 29, 1786 by William Herschel.[6][1][3]
The galaxy appears to be home to a supermassive black hole with a mass of 256 million (± 16 million) times the mass of the Sun.[7] It is estimated to have 390±60 globular clusters.[8]
NGC 4546 appears to have at least 2 companions,[8] NGC 4546-UCD1 and CGCG 014-074.[8]