NGC 6240

irregular galaxy

Key facts

Constellation: Ophiuchus
Right ascension: 16 52 58.8708
Declination: +02 ° 24 ′ 03.333 ″
Redshift: 7287 ± 8 km/ s
Distance: 351.9 ± 24.7 Mly (107.90 ± 7.56 Mpc )
Type: I0 pec
Size: ~242,900 ly (74.48 kpc ) (estimated)
Apparent size v: 2.1′ × 1.1′
Notable features: merger remnant

via Wikipedia infobox

Wikidata facts

Distance from Earth: 111.9
Image: Hubble Interacting Galaxy NGC 6240 (2008-04-24).jpg

Show 10 more facts

catalog code: GB6 B1650+0228
Commons category: NGC 6240
redshift: 0.024323
time of discovery or invention: 1871-07-12
Commons gallery: NGC 6240
apparent magnitude: 11.987
galaxy morphological type: I...
right ascension: 253.2452542
declination: 2.4009861
radial velocity: 7203

Sources (2)

via Wikidata · CC0

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Article

NGC 6240, also known as the Starfish Galaxy, is a nearby ultraluminous infrared galaxy (ULIRG) in the constellation Ophiuchus. It was discovered by French astronomer Édouard Stephan on 12 July 1871.

The galaxy is the remnant of a merger between three smaller galaxies. The collision between the three progenitor galaxies has resulted in a single, larger galaxy with three distinct nuclei and a highly disturbed structure, including faint extensions and loops.