NGC 2776
A face-on spiral with fragmented arms and star formation.
NGC 2776 is an intermediate spiral galaxy in the constellation Lynx, discovered by British astronomer John Herschel in March 1828. He noted it as a bright, round object with a luminous center. Classified as an isolated, face-on spiral of type SAB(rs)c or early Sc, the galaxy features fragmented spiral arms that show signs of star formation in optical images. These arms emerge from a smooth inner disk with high surface brightness; one arm appears blue, indicating a stellar age under 10⁷ years. The galaxy’s nucleus is bright, while its central region is reddened and elongated. JHK imaging reveals an inner ring, and a weak bar may exist, though a June 1997 study suggests no bar is present. H II regions have been detected within the galaxy. Based on a 2007 study of low-luminosity galaxies, the supermassive black hole at its center has an estimated mass of 6.9 solar masses.
Quick Facts
- Epoch
- J2000
- Constellation Name
- Lynx
- Ra
- 09 · 12 · 14.52
- Dec
- +44 · 57 · 17.48
- Z
- 0.008759
- H Radial V
- 2,626 km/s
- Dist Ly
- 136 Mly
- Appmag V
- 11.4
- Names
- 2MIG 1236, ECO 03209, PGC 25946, IRAS 09089+4509, KUG 0908+451, MCG +08-17-056, NSA 157091, SIG 0690, UGC 4838, KIG 0314
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
NGC 2776 is classified as an isolated spiral galaxy of type SAB(rs)c or an early type Sc that is described as face-on. The galaxy shows the presence of spiral arms considered as fragmented, with star formation activity as seen in optical imaging. These arms appear to emerge from a smooth inner disk on the outer edge with high surface brightness. One of the arms appears to be blue, corresponding to an approximate stellar age of less than 107 years. The central nucleus of the galaxy has a bright appearance. There is also a central region present in the galaxy with a reddened appearance and described as elongated. An inner ring feature is shown based on JHK imaging. A weak bar feature is suggested, although a study published in June 1997 suggested it lacks a bar. Regions of H II have also been detected inside the galaxy. The supermassive black hole lying inside the center of the galaxy is estimated to be 6.9 M☉, based on a study of low-luminosity galaxies published in 2007.
Reader's Guide
NGC 2776 is significant as an example of an isolated intermediate spiral galaxy exhibiting fragmented spiral arms and ongoing star formation, particularly in a blue arm with very young stellar populations. Its face-on orientation allows detailed study of its structure, including a smooth inner disk, an inner ring, and a possible weak bar—though the bar's presence is disputed. The detection of H II regions and a bright nucleus further indicate active star formation. The measurement of its supermassive black hole mass at 6.9 M☉ contributes to understanding black hole demographics in low-luminosity galaxies. Discovered by John Herschel in March 1828, the galaxy remains a subject of interest for studies of spiral arm dynamics and star formation in isolated environments.
Did You Know?
- NGC 2776 was discovered in March 1828 by John Herschel.
- The galaxy has a supermassive black hole estimated at 6.9 M☉.
- One of its spiral arms appears blue, indicating a stellar age of less than 107 years.
- A study from June 1997 suggested the galaxy lacks a bar, though a weak bar feature is also suggested.
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