MB 3 is a dwarf spheroidal galaxy discovered in 1997 and located about 10 million light-years away from the Earth. It was discovered during an optical survey of the IC 342/Maffei group to which the galaxy is a member. MB3 is a companion galaxy of Dwingeloo 1 and situated in the Zone of Avoidance.[4] MB 3 is thought to be a member of the IC 342/Maffei Group, a galaxy group adjacent to the Local Group.[2]
| MB 3 | |
|---|---|
| Observation data (J2000 epoch) | |
| Constellation | Cassiopeia |
| Right ascension | 02h 55m 42.7s[1] |
| Declination | +58° 51' 37"[1] |
| Distance | ~10 Mly (~ 3 Mpc)[2] |
| Group or cluster | IC 342/Maffei |
| Apparent magnitude (V) | 17.33 (V-band)[3] |
| Characteristics | |
| Type | dSph |
| Apparent size (V) | ~ 1.9′[1] |
| Notable features | Companion of Dwingeloo 1 |
| Other designations | |
| 2MASX J02554290+5851394, KK98-021, PGC 166069 | |
The visible diameter of MB 3 is approximately 1.9′, which at the distance of 3 Mpc corresponds to about 2 kpc. In optical images it appears as a highly flattened diffuse oval located approximately 9.2′ to the southwest of Dwingeloo 1.[3] No neutral or molecular hydrogen has been detected in it, which is consistent with its classification as a dwarf spheroidal galaxy.[4]
References
edit- ^ a b c "NASA/IPAC Extragalactic Database". Results for MB3. Retrieved 2011-10-24.
- ^ a b Karachentsev, I. D. (2005). "The Local Group and Other Neighboring Galaxy Groups". The Astronomical Journal. 129 (1): 178–188. arXiv:astro-ph/0410065. Bibcode:2005AJ....129..178K. doi:10.1086/426368. S2CID 119385141.
- ^ a b Buta, R. J.; McCall, M. L. (1999). "The IC 342/Maffei Group Revealed". The Astrophysical Journal Supplement Series. 124 (1): 33–93. Bibcode:1999ApJS..124...33B. doi:10.1086/313255.
- ^ a b McCall, M. L.; Buta, R. J. (1997). "Discovery of a Second Companion of Dwingeloo 1". The Astronomical Journal. 113: 981. Bibcode:1997AJ....113..981M. doi:10.1086/118314.