NGC 1407

NGC 1407 is a giant elliptical galaxy located in the constellation Eridanus. It is the brightest galaxy in the Eridanus Group, a galaxy cluster that is also known as the Eridanus Cloud.

NGC 1407 is classified as an E0 galaxy, indicating that it is nearly spherical in shape and lacks prominent spiral arms or a disk. It is a massive galaxy, estimated to contain hundreds of billions of stars. The galaxy's core is relatively bright and hosts a supermassive black hole.

The Eridanus Group, dominated by NGC 1407, is a relatively loose group of galaxies. Other notable members include NGC 1395 and NGC 1400. The galaxies in the group are gravitationally bound but are not as densely packed as in richer clusters of galaxies.

Observations of NGC 1407 have revealed the presence of a large number of globular clusters orbiting the galaxy. These globular clusters are ancient, tightly bound groups of stars that provide insights into the galaxy's formation history. Studies of the globular cluster populations around NGC 1407 have suggested that the galaxy may have formed through the merger of smaller galaxies.

The distance to NGC 1407 is estimated to be approximately 71 million light-years.