LEDA 074886

LEDA 074886
Observation data (J2000 epoch)
Constellation	Eridanus
Right ascension	03^h 40^m 43.233^s [1]
Declination	−18° 38′ 43.10″ [1]
Distance	70,000 kly (21,000 kpc) h−1 0.73
Group or cluster	NGC 1407[2]
Characteristics
Type	S0 [3]
Mass	1×10^9 M☉
Other designations
PGC 74886

LEDA 074886, also known as PGC 74886, is a dwarf galaxy with a rare rectangular shape, located at a distance of about 70,000,000 light-years (21,000,000 pc) in the Eridanus constellation.^[4] The galaxy was detected in a wide field of view image taken by Subaru Telescope^[5] using the Subaru Prime Focus Camera (Suprime-Cam).^[6] The Keck Telescope discovered a rapidly spinning, thin disc with a side on orientation lurking at the center of LEDA 074886.^[5] It is believed that unless LEDA 074886 merges with a similarly aligned galaxy, it may lose its corners over the next billion years.^[4] LEDA 074886 has a mass of around 10⁹ M⊙ (Compared to the Milky Way's mass of about 10¹² M⊙).^[2]

Location

LEDA 074886 is located in the celestial sphere at an azimuth ($\alpha$) of 03^h 40^m 43.2^s, and a declination ($\delta$) of −18° 38′ 43″ (J2000). It is located within the Galactic corona of NGC 1407, a massive spherical galaxy which is located approximately 50 thousand parsecs to the northwest of LEDA 074886.^[2]

See also

• SDSS J074018.17+282756.3 is a spiral galaxy with arms that have a somewhat squarish-looking interior, but is distinct from LEDA 074886 because LEDA 074886 has no apparent spiral structure and a boxy like exterior form.^[2]
• Sextans A, a member of the local group, has a box like form due to its expanding shell of young blue stars, but it has a much lower mass and density, and includes a central disc which LEDA 074886 does not include.^[2]

References

1. SIMBAD, LEDA 074886 (accessed 20 March 2012)
2. Graham, Alister W.; Spitler, Lee R.; Forbes, Duncan A.; Lisker, Thorsten; Moore, Ben; Janz, Joachim (March 19, 2012). "LEDA 074886: A REMARKABLE RECTANGULAR-LOOKING GALAXY". The Astrophysical Journal. 750 (2): 121. arXiv:1203.3608. doi:10.1088/0004-637X/750/2/121.
3. NED, LEDA 074886 (accessed 20 March 2012)
4. Rachel Kaufman (March 20, 2012). "Rare "Emerald Cut" Galaxy Found". National Geographic News. Retrieved March 21, 2012.
5. "Astronomers Discover Galaxy That Resembles An Emerald-Cut Diamond". Asian Scientist. March 20, 2012. Retrieved March 21, 2012.
6. "Surprising Discovery of a Rare "Emerald-Cut" Galaxy" (Press release). Subaru Telescope—National Astronomical Observatory of Japan. March 19, 2012. Retrieved March 23, 2012.