Fornax Cluster

The Fornax Cluster is a cluster of galaxies lying at a distance of 19 megaparsecs (62 million light-years).[3] It is the second richest galaxy cluster within 100 million light-years, after the considerably larger Virgo Cluster, and 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.[4]

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]
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,[5] which in turn lends clues about the associated galactic superstructure.[6] 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
Edited view of the Fornax Cluster with its main galaxies and surrounding intracluster hot gas

Fornax can be divided into two subclusters: the main one, centered on NGC 1399, and a subgroup 3 degrees to the southwest centered on the lenticular galaxy NGC 1316 that is in the process of infalling with the largest subcluster to finally merge with it, and whose galaxies are experiencing strong star formation activity.[4]

Intracluster medium

As with many other galaxy clusters, Fornax intracluster medium is filled with a hot, rarefied gas that emits X-rays.[7] and contains a number of intergalactic stars, some of which have produced novae.[8]

List of cluster members
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 357-0703 10.4−33 0914.7SBm2.2′40981
ESO 357-1203 16.9−35 3214.8SBcd2.2′401445
IC 191303 19.6−32 2814.5SBb2.1′401318
NGC 131003 21.1−37 0613SBc1.9′35641640
PGC 1262503 22.1−37 35?Irr2.9′551507
NGC 131603 22.7−37 129.4(R')SAB(s)011.5′215621664
NGC 131703 22.7−37 0611.9SBa3.0′55701935
NGC 132603 23.9−36 2811.5S04.3′80631247
NGC 1326A03 25.1−36 2214.7SBm1.7′301719
NGC 1326B03 25.3−36 2313.7SBm3.5′65888
IC 191903 26.0−32 5413.9E1.6′301158
NGC 133603 26.5−35 4313.4E1.9′351360
NGC 134103 28.0−37 0913.3SBab1.6′301760
NGC 133903 28.1−32 1712.8E1.9′351240
NGC 134403 28.3−31 0411.2E5.6′1051052
ESO 358-0903 28.8−35 1114.2SBbc2.3′451241
ESO 358-1003 29.7−33 3314.8E1.5′301620
NGC 135103 30.6−34 5112.4E3.2′60691420
NGC 135003 31.1−33 3811.2Sa(r)5.8′130871905
NGC 136503 33.6−36 0810.3(R')SBb(s)b11.0′205561636
NGC 136603 33.9−31 1213.1S01.9′351137
NGC 137403 35.3−35 1411.0E2.7′50591240
NGC 137503 35.3−35 1612.2SB0 pec2.1′4059643
IC 33503 35.5−34 2713.4S02.3′45601530
NGC 137903 36.1−35 2611.9E2.6′501264
NGC 138003 36.5−34 599.9S04.8′85601737
NGC 138103 36.5−35 1811.5S02.6′55601673
NGC 136903 36.8−36 1513.6Sa1.7′301340
NGC 138603 36.8−36 0011.2(R′)SA(r)0/a3.4′6553868
NGC 1380A03 36.8−34 4413.4S02.5′451419
NGC 138703 37.0−35 3010.8(R')SAB(s)03.2′60531296
NGC 138203 37.1−35 1213.8E1.5′301697
NGC 138903 37.2−35 4512.6E2.6′5042883
NGC 139603 38.6−35 2713.8E0.7′767853
NGC 139903 38.5−35 269.9E6.8′130661335
NGC 140403 38.9−35 3610.9E4.1′75651942
NGC 140603 39.4−31 1912.9SBbc3.9′75963
NGC 1427A03 40.1−35 3813.4Irr2.1′40522028
ESO 358-5003 41.1−33 4713.9S01.6′301151
PGC 1357103 41.5−34 5314.1Sa1.5′301626
NGC 142503 42.2−29 5411.4SA(rs)b6.0′115691402
NGC 142703 42.3−35 2411.8E3.6′70711327
NGC 142803 42.4−35 0914.0E1.5′30751602
NGC 1437A03 43.0−36 1614.2SBd1.7′30798
NGC 143603 43.6−35 5111.7SBab2.8′50581296
ESO 358-6003 45.2−35 3415.6Irr1.7′30710
NGC 1437B03 45.9−36 2214.0Sc2.5′451415
NGC 146003 46.2−36 4213.5SB01.7′30631341
PGC 1380903 46.3−34 5712.6Sc4.8′901838
IC 199303 47.1−33 4212.6(R')SA(s)bc2.5′45501057
ESO 302-0903 47.6−38 3514.6SBd2.2′40908
ESO 302-1403 51.7−38 2715.5Irr1.5′30798
ESO 359-0303 52.0−33 2814.1Sab1.8′351495
NGC 148403 54.3−36 5813.9Sb2.5′45952
IC 200603 54.3−35 5812.5E1.9′35651382
NGC 153104 11.2−32 5112.9S01.3′15571169
NGC 153204 12.1−32 5210.7SBb12.6′210571040

See also

References
  1. "Inside the Fiery Furnace". Retrieved 13 April 2016.
  2. "NASA/IPAC Extragalactic Database". Results for Fornax Cluster. Retrieved 2006-10-08.
  3. 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.
  4. 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.
  5. "Hubble Heritage Project". Dwarf Irregulars and Galaxy Clusters. Retrieved 2006-12-07.
  6. "Chandra X-Ray Observatory". Fornax Cluster: Motions of Nearby Galaxy Cluster Reveal Presence of Hidden Superstructure. Retrieved 2006-12-07.
  7. "Fornax Cluster: Motions of Nearby Galaxy Cluster Reveal Presence of Hidden Superstructure". NASA. 30 April 2005. Retrieved 10 December 2012.
  8. 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.


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