Part of the New General Catalogue (NGC) of deep-sky objects
Other designations
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NGC 3776 is a spiral galaxy located in the constellation Virgo. It is classified as an Sb-type galaxy, which signifies it has moderately tightly wound spiral arms. This galaxy was discovered in 1886 by astronomer Ormond Stone, known for his work cataloging celestial objects in the southern hemisphere. NGC 3776 has a visual magnitude of 16, making it challenging to observe without a telescope. The galaxy is cataloged within the New General Catalogue (NGC), a comprehensive listing of deep-sky objects compiled by John Louis Emil Dreyer in 1888 to include discoveries like Stone’s.
Characteristics
NGC 3776 is an Sb-type spiral galaxy, characterized by its moderately tight spiral arms. Located in the constellation Virgo, this galaxy is observable at right ascension 11h 38m 17.98s and declination -03° 21′ 15.8″.[1][2] The galaxy has an apparent visual magnitude of 16.0, making it relatively faint and challenging to view without advanced telescopic equipment. Its radial velocity of approximately 11,130 km/s and redshift of 0.03784 indicate a substantial recessional velocity, which is consistent with galaxies positioned at considerable distances from Earth.[3]
NGC 3776 has a surface brightness of about 23.0 mag/arcsec2, which suggests that it appears dim against the night sky. With an angular size of 0.48′ by 0.38′, it occupies a small region when viewed from Earth. These measurements highlight its remoteness and modest luminosity compared to more prominent galaxies.
History
NGC 3776 was discovered in 1886 by the American astronomer Ormond Stone, who made significant contributions to the study of southern hemisphere celestial objects during his tenure at the Leander McCormick Observatory in Virginia.
