The Fornax Cluster is a cluster of galaxies lying at a distance of 19 megaparsecs (62 million light-years).[3] It has an estimated mass of (7±2)×1013 solar masses,[4] making it the second richest galaxy cluster within 100 million light-years, after the considerably larger Virgo Cluster. It may be associated with the nearby Eridanus Group. It lies primarily in the constellation Fornax, with its southern boundaries partially crossing into the constellation of Eridanus, and covers an area of sky about 6° across or about 28 sq degrees.[5]

Fornax Cluster
VLT Survey Telescope image of the Fornax Galaxy Cluster[1]
Observation data (Epoch J2000)
Constellation(s)Fornax & Eridanus
Right ascension3h 38m[2]
Declination−35° 27[2]
Brightest memberNGC 1316
Number of galaxies58[2]
Binding mass(7±2)×1013 M
Other designations
NGC 1399 Group, Abell S0373 or AGC 3733,[2] G53, LGG 96

The Fornax Cluster is a particularly valuable source of information about the evolution of such clusters due to its relatively close proximity to the Sun. It also shows the gravitational effects of a merger of a galaxy subgroup with the main galaxy group,[6] which in turn lends clues about the associated galactic superstructure.[7] At the centre of the cluster lies NGC 1399.[3] Other cluster members include NGC 1316 (the group's brightest galaxy), NGC 1365, NGC 1427A, NGC 1427 and NGC 1404.[3]

Structure

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Fornax can be divided into two subclusters: the main cluster, centered on NGC 1399, and a subgroup 3 degrees to the southwest centered on the lenticular galaxy NGC 1316 that is currently in the process of infalling with the largest subcluster to merge with it, and whose galaxies are experiencing relatively strong star formation activity. [5]

Intracluster medium

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As with many other galaxy clusters, Fornax intracluster medium is filled with a hot, rarefied gas that emits X-rays.[8] and contains a number of intergalactic stars, some of which have produced novae.[9]

List of cluster members

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Cluster Members
Designation Coordinates (Epoch 2000) Apparent magnitude Type Mean Angular diameter
(arcminutes)
Diameter
(x1000 Light-years)
Distance
(mly)
Recessional velocity
(km/s)
Right Ascension Declination
ESO 357-07 03 10.4 −33 09 14.7 SBm 2.2 40 981
ESO 357-12 03 16.9 −35 32 14.8 SBcd 2.2 40 1445
IC 1913 03 19.6 −32 28 14.5 SBb 2.1 40 67 1318
NGC 1310 03 21.1 −37 06 13 SBc 1.9 35 64 1640
LEDA 12625 03 22.1 −37 35 ? Irr 2.9 55 1507
NGC 1316 03 22.7 −37 12 9.4 (R')SAB(s)0 11.5 215 62 1664
NGC 1317 03 22.7 −37 06 11.9 SBa 3.0 55 70 1935
NGC 1326 03 23.9 −36 28 11.5 S0 4.3 80 63 1247
NGC 1326A 03 25.1 −36 22 14.7 SBm 1.7 30 84 1719
NGC 1326B 03 25.3 −36 23 13.7 SBm 3.5 65 46 888
IC 1919 03 26.0 −32 54 13.9 E 1.6 30 61 1158
NGC 1336 03 26.5 −35 43 13.4 E 1.9 35 65 1360
NGC 1341 03 28.0 −37 09 13.3 SBab 1.6 30 86 1760
NGC 1339 03 28.1 −32 17 12.8 E 1.9 35 64 1240
NGC 1344 03 28.3 −31 04 11.2 E 5.6 105 60 1052
ESO 358-09 03 28.8 −35 11 14.2 SBbc 2.3 45 1241
ESO 358-10 03 29.7 −33 33 14.8 E 1.5 30 1620
NGC 1351 03 30.6 −34 51 12.4 E-S0 3.2 60 69 1420
NGC 1350* 03 31.1 −33 38 11.2 Sa(r) 5.8 130 87 1905
NGC 1365 03 33.6 −36 08 10.3 (R')SBb(s)b 11.0 205 56 1636
NGC 1366 03 33.9 −31 12 13.1 S0 1.9 35 56 1137
NGC 1374 03 35.3 −35 14 11.0 E 2.7 50 59 1240
NGC 1375* 03 35.3 −35 16 12.2 SB0 pec 2.1 23 28 643
IC 335 03 35.5 −34 27 13.4 S0 2.3 45 60 1530
NGC 1379 03 36.1 −35 26 11.9 E 2.6 50 60 1264
NGC 1380 03 36.5 −34 59 9.9 S0 4.8 85 60 1737
NGC 1381 03 36.5 −35 18 11.5 S0 2.6 55 60 1673
NGC 1369 03 36.8 −36 15 13.6 Sa 1.7 30 65 1340
NGC 1386 03 36.8 −36 00 11.2 (R)SA(r)0/a 3.4 65 53 868
NGC 1380A 03 36.8 −34 44 13.4 S0 2.5 45 72 1419
NGC 1387 03 37.0 −35 30 10.8 (R')SAB(s)0 3.2 60 53 1296
NGC 1382 03 37.1 −35 12 13.8 E 1.5 30 80 1697
NGC 1389 03 37.2 −35 45 12.6 E 2.6 50 42 883
NGC 1396 03 38.6 −35 27 13.8 E 0.7 7 67 853
NGC 1399 03 38.5 −35 26 9.9 E 6.8 130 66 1335
NGC 1404 03 38.9 −35 36 10.9 E 4.1 75 65 1942
NGC 1406 03 39.4 −31 19 12.9 SBbc 3.9 75 50 963
NGC 1427A 03 40.1 −35 38 13.4 Irr 2.1 40 52 2028
ESO 358-50 03 41.1 −33 47 13.9 S0 1.6 30 1151
ESO 358-51 03 41.5 −34 53 14.1 Sa 1.5 30 1626
NGC 1425 03 42.2 −29 54 11.4 SA(rs)b 6.0 115 69 1402
NGC 1427 03 42.3 −35 24 11.8 E 3.6 70 71 1327
NGC 1428 03 42.4 −35 09 14.0 E 1.5 30 75 1602
NGC 1437A 03 43.0 −36 16 14.2 SBd 1.7 30 41 798
NGC 1436 03 43.6 −35 51 11.7 SBab 2.8 50 58 1296
ESO 358-60 03 45.2 −35 34 15.6 Irr 1.7 30 710
NGC 1437B 03 45.9 −36 22 14.0 Sc 2.5 45 69 1415
NGC 1460 03 46.2 −36 42 13.5 SB0 1.7 30 63 1341
PGC 13809 03 46.3 −34 57 12.6 Sc 4.8 90 1838
IC 1993 03 47.1 −33 42 12.6 (R')SA(s)bc 2.5 45 50 1057
ESO 302-09 03 47.6 −38 35 14.6 SBd 2.2 40 908
ESO 302-14 03 51.7 −38 27 15.5 Irr 1.5 30 798
ESO 359-03 03 52.0 −33 28 14.1 Sab 1.8 35 1495
NGC 1484 03 54.3 −36 58 13.9 Sb 2.5 45 48 952
IC 2006 03 54.3 −35 58 12.5 E 1.9 35 65 1382
NGC 1531 04 11.2 −32 51 12.9 S0 1.3 15 57 1169
NGC 1532 04 12.1 −32 52 10.7 SBb 12.6 210 57

(*) - Membership is uncertain

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Inside the Fiery Furnace". Retrieved 13 April 2016.
  2. ^ a b c d "NASA/IPAC Extragalactic Database". Results for Fornax Cluster. Retrieved 2006-10-08.
  3. ^ a b c Jordán, A.; Blakeslee, J. P.; Côté, P.; Ferrarese, L.; Infante, L.; Mei, S.; Merritt, D.; Peng, E. W.; et al. (June 2006). "The ACS Fornax Cluster Survey. I. Introduction to the Survey and Data Reduction Procedures". The Astrophysical Journal Supplement Series. 452 (1): 141–153. arXiv:astro-ph/0702320. Bibcode:2007ApJS..169..213J. doi:10.1086/512778. S2CID 17845709.
  4. ^ Drinkwater, Michael J.; Gregg, Michael D.; Colless, Matthew (2001-02-01). "Substructure and Dynamics of the Fornax Cluster". The Astrophysical Journal Letters. 548 (2): L139–L142. arXiv:astro-ph/0012415. Bibcode:2001ApJ...548L.139D. doi:10.1086/319113. ISSN 0004-637X. S2CID 13456590.
  5. ^ a b Drinkwater, Michael J.; Gregg, Michael D.; Colless, Matthew (February 2001). "Substructure and Dynamics of the Fornax Cluster". The Astrophysical Journal Letters. 548 (2): L139. arXiv:astro-ph/0012415. Bibcode:2001ApJ...548L.139D. doi:10.1086/319113. S2CID 13456590.
  6. ^ "Hubble Heritage Project". Dwarf Irregulars and Galaxy Clusters. Retrieved 2006-12-07.
  7. ^ "Chandra X-Ray Observatory". Fornax Cluster: Motions of Nearby Galaxy Cluster Reveal Presence of Hidden Superstructure. Retrieved 2006-12-07.
  8. ^ "Fornax Cluster: Motions of Nearby Galaxy Cluster Reveal Presence of Hidden Superstructure". NASA. 30 April 2005. Retrieved 10 December 2012.
  9. ^ Neill, James D.; Shara, Michael M.; Oegerle, William R. (January 2005). "Tramp Novae between Galaxies in the Fornax Cluster: Tracers of Intracluster Light". The Astrophysical Journal. 618 (2): 692–704. arXiv:astro-ph/0409265. Bibcode:2005ApJ...618..692N. doi:10.1086/426049. S2CID 5649912.


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