| NGC 4318 | |
|---|---|
SDSS image of NGC 4318.
| |
| Observation data (J2000 epoch) | |
| Constellation | Virgo |
| Right ascension | 12h22m 43.3s[1] |
| Declination | 08° 11′ 54″[1] |
| Redshift | 0.004106[1] |
| Heliocentric radial velocity | 1231 km/s[1] |
| Distance | 72 Mly (22 Mpc)[1] |
| Grouporcluster | Virgo W′ group[2] |
| Apparent magnitude (V) | 13.8[1] |
| Characteristics | |
| Type | S0[3] |
| Mass | 7.2×1009[4] M☉ |
| Size | ~22,000 ly (6.7 kpc) (estimated)[1] |
| Apparent size (V) | 0.84 x 0.69[1] |
| Other designations | |
| UGC 07446, VCC 0575, PGC 040122, MCG +02-32-015[1] | |
NGC 4318 is a small lenticular galaxy[3] located about 72 million light-years away[5] in the constellation Virgo. It was discovered by astronomer John Herschel on January 18, 1828.[6] NGC 4318 is a member of the Virgo W′ group,[2][7][8][9] a group of galaxies in the background of the Virgo Cluster[2] that is centered on the giant elliptical galaxy NGC 4365.[9]
NGC 4318 contains a small,[3] classical bulge[10] and a nuclear stellar disc with a diameter of ~230 ly (70 pc).[11] Outside the nuclear stellar disc lies a sharply bounded, low surface brightness region with a diameter of ~1,800 ly (560 pc) beyond which lies a larger outer disk.[3][12]
NGC 4318 harbors a supermassive black hole with an estimated mass of 4 million (5×106 M☉) solar masses.[13][14][15]
NGC 4318 is surrounded by 18 globular clusters.[16][17]
