Notice: session_start(): Ignoring session_start() because a session is already active in /home/yivumoo/public_html/scripts/frag_build_banner.php on line 1
sponsored by psychohistorian.org
Notice: session_start(): Ignoring session_start() because a session is already active in /home/yivumoo/public_html/scripts/frag_build_menu.php on line 1
Notice: session_start(): Ignoring session_start() because a session is already active in /home/yivumoo/public_html/scripts/frag_build_browse_showobject.php on line 1
NGC 4696
NGC 4696, ESO 322-91, LEDA 43296, MCG-07-26-051, SGC 124604-4102.3, PKS 1246-041, h 3424, GC 3226
RA: 12h 48m 49.1s
Dec: −41° 18′ 40″
Con: Centaurus
Ch: MSA:934, U2:402, SA:21
Ref: SIMBAD, Corwin (2004)
Type: galaxy (in cluster), S...
Mag: B=11.75, V=?
Size: 4.466′ x 2.951′
PA: 95°
Historical observations
John Herschel (1847) Cape Observations
Discovered by Sir John Herschel at the Cape of Good Hope with an 18-inch f/13 speculum telescope. He recorded it as "pretty bright, large, round, gradually brighter in the middle, 2' resolvable."
Published comments
Helwan Obs. Bulletin No 22 (1921)
F, 1.5' diameter, R. pB, alm.stell.N.; the object looks unlike a nebula; and is suggestive of a very distant unresolved globular cluster.
de Vaucouleurs, G. (1956)
De Vaucouleurs (1956) "Survey of bright galaxies south of -35° declination", Mem. Mount Stromlo, No. 13. (photographic study, plates taken with the 30-inch Reynolds reflector, 20-inch diaphragm).
Shobbrook (1966)
Shobbrook (1966, Mon. Not. R. astr. Soc., Vol 131, p351-363) notes that this member of the Centaurus Cluster has V = 11.25, B-V = 1.06 and U-B = 0.71. It measures 2.55 by 2.32. He remarks: "NGC 4696 becomes redder in the larger diaphragm in U-B. This may be due to the fact that, in addition to the main dust lane near the nucleus, there are also very faint absorption filaments in the outer regions."
Sulentic & Tifft (1973)
The RNGC (Sulentic and Tifft 1973) notes that this is a 12.0 mag galaxy. Their coded description reads E,R,BM,EXTHALO.
Sandage (1975)
Sandage (1975(Astrophysical Journal, 202, 563-582) notes that this galaxy is a member of the Centaurus Cluster. Members include NGC 4645, NGC 4677, NGC 4683, NGC 4696, NGC 4706, NGC 4709, NGC 4743, NGC 4744 & NGC 4767.
Burnham's Celestial Handbook
Burnham calls this a 12.5 mag elliptical galaxy in Centaurus, 1.7' x 1.2', pretty bright, large, slightly elongated and gradually brighter in the middle.
Photo index
Photo Index by Jim Lucyk: Deep Sky #22 Sp88 p29.
HEIC1013 press release (2010 Aug 12)
NGC 4696: A cosmic question mark
Modern observations
Brian Skiff
POSS: m13 * 45" NW.
15cm - much the brtst of cl, mod br @ 80x w/m13 * in NW side. 140x: 1'.5 diam in vf halo; brtr part oval elong ~E-W w/mod even concen. no well-def core or nuc. BS, 27Feb1990, LCO.
Contemporary observations
Auke Slotegraaf
2004 March 24
From "Observing log, 2004 March 24"
Rifle Range, 6-inch f/8
I made it all the way across to the heart of the Centaurus cluster, four degrees away, before I noticed that all was not well. NGC 4696, quite obvious in a diminished star field, was a soft glow, much like a bloated star. I looked up from the eyepiece, and saw the first wisp of cloud move in. It was just after midnight.
Notice: session_start(): Ignoring session_start() because a session is already active in /home/yivumoo/public_html/scripts/frag_right_bookmarks.php on line 1
Favourite lists
Lacaille's catalogue
The Messier objects
Dunlop's catalogue
The Bennett objects
The Caldwell list
Named DSOs
Notice: session_start(): Ignoring session_start() because a session is already active in /home/yivumoo/public_html/scripts/db_right_object_search.php on line 1
Notice: session_start(): Ignoring session_start() because a session is already active in /home/yivumoo/public_html/scripts/db_right_help.php on line 1
The Bug Report
DOCdb is still in beta-release.
Known issues, feature requests, and updates on bug fixes, are here:
Feedback
Found a bug? Have a comment or suggestion to improve DOCdb? Please let us know!
Help!
DOCdb is a free online resource that exists to promote deep sky observing.
You could help by sharing your observations, writing an article, digitizing and proof-reading historical material, and more.
Notice: session_start(): Ignoring session_start() because a session is already active in /home/yivumoo/public_html/scripts/db_bottom_maincontent.php on line 1
Notice: session_start(): Ignoring session_start() because a session is already active in /home/yivumoo/public_html/scripts/db_bottom_copyright.php on line 1
Everything on DOCdb.net is © 2004-2010 by Auke Slotegraaf, unless stated otherwise or if you can prove you have divine permission to use it. Before using material published here, please consult the Creative Commons Attribution-Non-Commercial-Share Alike 2.5 License. Some material on DOCdb is copyright the individual authors. If in doubt, don't reproduce. And that goes for having children, too. Please note that the recommended browser for DOCdb is Firefox 3.x. You may also get good results with K-Meleon. Good luck if you're using IE. A successful experience with other browsers, including Opera and Safari, may vary.