NGC 6503 is a field[6] dwarf spiral galaxy located at the edge of a region of space called the Local Void. The dwarf galaxy spans 30,000 light-years and lies approximately 17 million light-years away in the constellation of Draco (the Dragon). The spiral galaxy is especially colorful where bright red regions of gas can be seen scattered through its spiral arms. Bright blue regions contain stars that are forming. Dark brown dust areas are in the galaxy's arms and center.[7]
NGC 6503 | |
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Observation data (J2000 epoch) | |
Constellation | Draco |
Right ascension | 17h 49m 26.4207s[2] |
Declination | +70° 08′ 39.587″[2] |
Redshift | 0.000143[3] |
Heliocentric radial velocity | 43 ± 3 km/s[3] |
Distance | 13.05 ± 0.33 Mly (4.0 ± 0.1 Mpc)[4] |
Apparent magnitude (V) | 10.2[5] |
Characteristics | |
Type | SA(s)cd[4] |
Apparent size (V) | 7.1′ × 2.4′[4] |
Other designations | |
LEDA 60921, TC 575, Z 340-19, IRAS 17499+7009, 2MASX J17492651+7008396, UGC 11012, IRAS F17499+7009, MCG+12-17-009, [SLK2000] 86, ISOSS J17493+7009, PSCz Q17499+7009, WN B1750+7009, [SLK2004] 1401, K73 837, Z 1749.9+7010[3] |
NGC 6503 has one known satellite galaxy, known as KK 242. With a stellar mass of about 3 million solar masses, KK 242 is on the border between a dwarf irregular galaxy (dIrr) and a dwarf spheroidal galaxy (dSph).[8]