NGC 6872
| NGC 6872 | |
|---|---|
NGC 6872 (center) with IC 4970 (above) | |
| Observation data (J2000 epoch) | |
| Constellation | Pavo |
| Right ascension | 20h 16m 56.558s |
| Declination | −70° 46′ 04.60″ |
| Redshift | 0.015194±0.0001 |
| Heliocentric radial velocity | 4555±30 km/s |
| Galactocentric velocity | 4443±30 km/s |
| Distance | 212 Mly (65 Mpc) |
| Apparent magnitude (V) | 10.69 |
| Absolute magnitude (V) | −23.29 |
| Characteristics | |
| Type | SB(s)b pec |
| Mass | >1011 M☉ |
| Size | >522 kly (160 kpc) (UV light diameter) 717 kly (220 kpc) (25.5 mag/arcsec−2 B-band isophote) |
| Apparent size (V) | 6.0′ × 1.7′ |
| Notable features | Interacting galaxy with IC 4970 |
| Other designations | |
| ESO 73-32, JB a 28-1, LEDA 64413, 2MASX J20165648-7046057, 2E 2011.7-7055 | |
NGC 6872, also known as the Condor Galaxy, is a large barred spiral galaxy of type SB(s)b pec in the constellation Pavo. It is 212 million light-years (65 Mpc) from Earth. NGC 6872 is interacting with the lenticular galaxy IC 4970, which is less than one twelfth as large. The galaxy has two elongated arms with a diameter based on ultraviolet light of over 522,000 light-years (160,000 pc), and a D25.5 isophotal diameter of over 717,000 light-years (220,000 pc), making it the largest known spiral galaxy. It was discovered on 27 June 1835 by English astronomer John Herschel.