NGC 6221 | |
---|---|
Observation data ( J2000 epoch) | |
Constellation | Ara |
Right ascension | 16h 52m 46.1s [1] |
Declination | −59° 13′ 07″ [1] |
Redshift | 0.004999±0.000017 [1] |
Heliocentric radial velocity | 1499±5 km/s [1] |
Galactocentric velocity | 1390±7 km/s [1] |
Apparent magnitude (V) | 9.28 [1] |
Absolute magnitude (V) | −20.97 [1] |
Characteristics | |
Type | SB(s)bc [1] |
Size | 70,000 light years |
Apparent size (V) | 3.5′ × 2.5′ [1] |
Other designations | |
ESO 138-3, AM 1648-590, IRAS16484-5908 and PGC 59175 | |
References: NASA/IPAC extragalactic datatbase,
http://spider.seds.org/ |
NGC 6221 (also known as PGC 59175) is a barred spiral galaxy located in the constellation Ara. In de Vaucouleurs' galaxy morphological classification scheme, it is classified as SB(s)bc [1] and was discovered by British astronomer John Herschel on 3 May 1835. [2] NGC 6221 is located at about 69 million light years from Earth. [1] [3]
In 1990, a type Ib/Ic supernova was detected within NGC 6221, and was designated SN 1990W. [4]
NGC 6221 is part of galaxy group NGC 6221/15, which includes spiral galaxy NGC 6215 and three dwarf galaxies. Interactions between NGC 6221 and NGC 6215 form a double-stranded bridge of neutral hydrogen gas over a projected distance of 100 kpc; Dwarf 3 of the three dwarf galaxies may have formed from the bridging gas. [5]