Lenticular galaxy in the constellation Perseus
NGC 1162 is a lenticular galaxy located in the constellation Perseus. It was discovered by astronomer William Herschel on October 14, 1784. The galaxy lies approximately 200 million light-years away from Earth and is classified as a type SA0^−^ galaxy, indicating a smooth structure with little to no spiral features.
Discovery
NGC 1162 was discovered by William Herschel on October 14, 1784, during his extensive sky surveys. It is included in the New General Catalogue compiled by astronomer John Louis Emil Dreyer. The galaxy was cataloged based on observations made with Herschel's 18.7-inch reflecting telescope.[1]
Physical characteristics
NGC 1162 is a lenticular galaxy, denoted as SA0^−^ in the Hubble sequence. Lenticular galaxies are considered intermediate types between spiral and elliptical galaxies. NGC 1162 lacks prominent spiral arms and has a smooth, featureless disk with a central bulge. It spans an apparent size of approximately 1.5 by 1.0 arcminutes in the sky and has an apparent magnitude of 13.1, making it faint but observable with mid-sized telescopes.
The galaxy is estimated to be around 200 million light-years away, as determined by its redshift value (z = 0.01475).[2]
Location and observation
NGC 1162 is situated in the northern constellation of Perseus. It can be located using star maps and is best observed in the winter months from the Northern Hemisphere. The galaxy appears faint and requires dark skies and telescopes with moderate aperture for clear observation.[3]
Environment and group association
NGC 1162 is part of a galaxy group within the Perseus constellation. Galaxy groups are smaller collections of galaxies bound together by gravitational forces. The interaction with neighboring galaxies may influence its structure and star formation history. However, lenticular galaxies like NGC 1162 typically have low levels of star formation.[4]
Importance in astronomy
NGC 1162 serves as a valuable object for studying galaxy morphology and the transition between spiral and elliptical galaxies. Its relatively close distance allows astronomers to analyze its structure, stellar populations, and dynamics in detail.
Recent studies have focused on its inactive galactic nucleus and the presence of older stellar populations, indicating a decline in star formation activity over time.[5]
References
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