NGC 4945
| NGC 4945 | |
|---|---|
NGC 4945 image take by the MPG/ESO 2.2-metre telescope at La Silla Observatory | |
| Observation data (J2000 epoch) | |
| Constellation | Centaurus |
| Right ascension | 13h 05m 27.279s |
| Declination | −49° 28′ 04.44″ |
| Redshift | 0.001868±0.00002 |
| Heliocentric radial velocity | 563±3 km/s |
| Distance | 10.96 ± 0.55 Mly (3.36 ± 0.17 Mpc) |
| Group or cluster | Centaurus A/M83 Group |
| Apparent magnitude (V) | 9.3 |
| Characteristics | |
| Type | SB(s)cd?edge |
| Mass | 1.4+1.4 −0.7×1011 M☉ |
| Size | 165,185 ly (50.67 kpc) (estimated) |
| Apparent size (V) | 20.0′ × 3.8′ |
| Notable features | Seyfert 2 galaxy |
| Other designations | |
| NGC 4945, LEDA 45279, PGC 45279, C 83 | |
NGC 4945 is a widely-studied barred spiral galaxy in the constellation Centaurus, visible near the optical double star Xi Centauri. It is also known as Caldwell 83. The galaxy was discovered by Scottish astronomer James Dunlop in 1826. It is located at a distance of approximately 11.0 million light-years (3.36 Mpc) from the Milky Way. NGC 4945 hosts one of the closest active galactic nuclei to Earth and is classified as a Seyfert 2 galaxy.
NGC 4945 is one of the brightest galaxies of the Centaurus A/M83 Group, a large, nearby group of galaxies. The galaxy is the second brightest galaxy in the subgroup centered on Centaurus A.