NGC 4696
| NGC 4696 | |
|---|---|
 NGC 4696 imaged by Legacy Surveys | |
| Observation data (J2000 epoch) | |
| Constellation | Centaurus |
| Right ascension | 12h 48m 49.2614s |
| Declination | −41° 18′ 39.115″ |
| Redshift | 0.009904±0.0000400 |
| Heliocentric radial velocity | 2,969±12 km/s |
| Distance | 116 ± 9 Mly (35 ± 3 Mpc) |
| Apparent magnitude (V) | 11.39 |
| Characteristics | |
| Type | E1 pec |
| Apparent size (V) | 4.5′ × 3.2′ |
| Other designations | |
| ESO 322- G 091, 2MASX J12484927-4118399, MCG -07-26-051, PGC 43296 | |
NGC 4696 is an elliptical galaxy in the constellation Centaurus. Its velocity with respect to the cosmic microwave background is 3,251±23 km/s, which corresponds to a Hubble distance of 156.4 ± 11.0 Mly (47.95 ± 3.38 Mpc). However, 25 non-redshift measurements give a much closer mean distance of 122.63 ± 3.90 Mly (37.600 ± 1.196 Mpc). It was discovered by British astronomer James Dunlop on 7 May 1826.
NGC 4696 is the brightest galaxy in the Centaurus Cluster, a large, rich cluster of galaxies in the constellation of the same name. The galaxy is surrounded by many dwarf elliptical galaxies also located within the cluster. There is believed to be a supermassive black hole at the center of the galaxy.