NGC 247 (also known as Caldwell 62 and commonly known as the Claw Galaxy) is an intermediate spiral galaxy in the constellation Cetus. Its distance has been computed to be by using near-infrared photometry of Cepheid variables. The galaxy had previously been estimated to be about 12.2 Mly distant. It was discovered by German-British astronomer William Herschel on 20 October 1784.
NGC 247 is a member of the Sculptor Group, and is about light years in diameter. NGC 247 has an unusually large void on one side of its spiral disk. This void contains some older, redder stars but no younger, bluer stars.
Nearby galaxies and galaxy group information
NGC 247 is one of several galaxies that is gravitationally bound to the Sculptor Galaxy (NGC 253). These galaxies form a small core in the center of the Sculptor Group, which is one of the nearest groups of galaxies to the Milky Way. Most other galaxies associated with the Sculptor Group are only weakly gravitationally bound to this core.
Burbidge's Chain In 1963, Geoffrey Burbidge and Margaret Burbidge identified a group of five background galaxies located northeast of NGC247. This grouping came to be known as Burbidge's Chain, and in 1977 it was listed in the VV catalog as VV518. Individually, the 5 galaxies are also identified as NGC247A, NGC247B, NGC247C, NGC247D, and ESO540-025.
Image Gallery
See also List of NGC objects (1–1000) Markarian's Chain
References
External links