| NGC 6861 | |
|---|---|
NGC 6861
| |
| Observation data (J2000 epoch) | |
| Constellation | Telescopium[1] |
| Right ascension | 20h07m 19.48s[2] |
| Declination | −48° 22′ 12.8″[2] |
| Redshift | 0.009437[2] |
| Apparent magnitude (V) | 11.0[1] |
| Characteristics | |
| Type | SA0^-(s):[2] |
| Apparent size (V) | 3′ × 2′[1] |
| Other designations | |
| IC 4949[1] | |
NGC 6861 is a lenticular galaxy located in the constellation Telescopium. It is the second-brightest object in the constellation. Unlike most lenticular galaxies, which tend to be mostly devoid of both gas and dust, NGC 6861 exhibits a thick obscuring ring of dust around the nucleus where star formation is occurring. The galaxy was discovered by Scottish astronomer James Dunlop, in 1826.[3] NGC 6861 is interacting with NGC 6868, and it is predicted that they will eventually merge.[4]
Media related to NGC 6861 at Wikimedia Commons
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