NGC 3285B

Lore & Background

NGC 3285B is a barred spiral galaxy whose earliest known reference appears in the 1964 book Reference Catalogue of Bright Galaxies by Antoinette de Vaucouleurs, Gérard de Vaucouleurs, and Harlow Shapley. Its velocity relative to the cosmic microwave background yields a Hubble distance of 48.60 ± 3.43 Mpc, but five non-redshift measurements indicate a closer distance of 41.880 ± 0.867 Mpc. The galaxy is a member of the NGC 3312 group (also known as LGG 210), which contains at least 11 galaxies including NGC 3312, NGC 3314A, PGC 31441, PGC 31444, PGC 31496, PGC 31515, and PGC 31580. All galaxies in this group belong to the Hydra Cluster (Abell 1060), the dominant cluster of the Hydra–Centaurus Supercluster. One supernova has been observed in NGC 3285B: SN2023xqm, a Type Ia supernova discovered by ATLAS on 13 November 2023 with a magnitude of 17.885, and a detailed study confirmed it as a typical Type Ia event.

Reader's Guide

NGC 3285B holds significance as a barred spiral galaxy within the Hydra Cluster, one of the major clusters in the Hydra–Centaurus Supercluster. Its membership in the NGC 3312 group places it among a collection of at least 11 galaxies, providing a context for studying galaxy interactions and group dynamics. The discrepancy between its Hubble distance (48.60 ± 3.43 Mpc) and the closer non-redshift measurements (41.880 ± 0.867 Mpc) highlights the ongoing challenges in accurately determining extragalactic distances, a key issue in cosmology. The observation of SN2023xqm, a typical Type Ia supernova, adds to the galaxy's legacy as a site for studying standard candles used in measuring cosmic expansion. Although not part of the original New General Catalogue, its inclusion in the 1964 Reference Catalogue of Bright Galaxies underscores its recognition in mid-20th-century astronomical catalogs. The galaxy's imaging by Legacy Surveys contributes to modern surveys of the Hydra region, aiding in the understanding of cluster structure and galaxy evolution.

Did You Know?

• NGC 3285B was not part of the original New General Catalogue despite its NGC designation.
• Its earliest known reference is from the 1964 Reference Catalogue of Bright Galaxies.
• One supernova, SN2023xqm (Type Ia), was observed in NGC 3285B on 13 November 2023.