NGC 4423
Edge-on Magellanic spiral in the Virgo Cluster region.
NGC 4423 is a Magellanic spiral galaxy, viewed edge-on, located in the constellation Virgo about 55 million light-years from Earth. German-British astronomer John Herschel discovered it.
This galaxy belongs to several overlapping groupings within the region of the Virgo Cluster. In a 1993 study by A.M. Garcia, NGC 4423 is listed among the 127 galaxies of the M49 group, which includes 63 objects from the New General Catalogue—such as M85, M49, and M60—along with 20 from the Index Catalogue. Separately, a 1998 list by Abraham Mahtessian includes NGC 4423 among 227 galaxies, featuring over 200 from the New General Catalogue, about fifteen from the Index Catalogue, and ten Messier objects: M49, M58, M60, M61, M85, M87, M88, M91, M99, and M100. However, Mahtessian’s list does not form a single group; instead, it comprises several groups that are all part of the much larger Virgo Cluster. To avoid confusion, this collection is sometimes called the M60 Group, after one of its brightest members. The Virgo Cluster itself is far larger, containing an estimated 1,300 to over 2,000 galaxies at the core of the Virgo Supercluster, which also includes the Local Group.
Many galaxies in Mahtessian’s list appear in eleven groups described by Garcia: the NGC 4123 group (7 galaxies), NGC 4261 group (13), NGC 4235 group (29), M88 group (13), NGC 4461 group (9), M61 group (32), NGC 4442 group (13), M87 group (96), M49 group (127), NGC 4535 group (14), and NGC 4753 group (15). These eleven groups together contain 396 galaxies and are all part of the Virgo Cluster. Still, some galaxies from Mahtessian’s list are absent from Garcia’s groups, and vice versa.
Quick Facts
- Constellation Name
- Virgo
- Epoch
- J2000
- Ra
- 12 · 27 · 08.9378
- Dec
- +05 · 52 · 47.531
- Dist Ly
- 55 Mly
- Names
- NGC 4423, UGC 07556, VCC 0971, CGCG 042-107, CGCG 1224.6+0609
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
NGC 4423 was discovered by German-British astronomer John Herschel. It is classified as a Magellanic spiral galaxy, a type characterized by a single spiral arm and a bar, and is seen edge-on from Earth. The galaxy lies in the constellation Virgo at a distance of about 55 million light-years.
NGC 4423 is listed as one of the many galaxies in the M49 group, which contains 127 galaxies according to one study. It also appears in a separate list of 227 galaxies that includes numerous Messier objects such as M49, M58, M60, M61, M85, M87, M88, M91, M99, and M100. This larger collection is often referred to as the M60 group, though it does not form a single coherent group but rather several groups within the Virgo Cluster.
The Virgo Cluster itself is much larger, estimated to contain around 1,300 galaxies, possibly more than 2,000, and lies at the core of the Virgo Supercluster, which includes the Local Group. NGC 4423's presence in both the M49 group and the M60 group list reflects its position within this complex cluster environment.
Reader's Guide
NGC 4423's significance lies in its role as a member of multiple overlapping galaxy groupings within the Virgo Cluster, illustrating the hierarchical structure of galaxy clustering. Its inclusion in the M49 group, one of eleven groups cataloged within the Virgo Cluster, and in the broader M60 group list demonstrates how individual galaxies can be part of both smaller associations and larger cluster-scale structures. The M49 group alone contains 127 galaxies, while the M60 group list encompasses 227 galaxies, many of which are distributed across several distinct groups. This overlapping membership highlights the challenges in defining galaxy groups and clusters, as different studies may group the same galaxies differently based on their criteria. NGC 4423, as a Magellanic spiral seen edge-on, also contributes to the diversity of galaxy morphologies present in the Virgo Cluster, which is dominated by elliptical and lenticular galaxies but includes a significant number of spirals and irregulars. Its discovery by John Herschel adds to the historical catalog of deep-sky objects, and its distance of 55 million light-years places it within the relatively nearby universe, making it a target for studies of galaxy evolution in dense environments.
Did You Know?
- NGC 4423 is a Magellanic spiral galaxy seen edge-on.
- The galaxy is located about 55 million light-years away in the constellation Virgo.
- NGC 4423 appears in both the M49 group (127 galaxies) and the M60 group list (227 galaxies).
More in Elliptical and Irregular Galaxies, Part 5 1-24
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