NGC 4206

NGC 4206 is a spiral galaxy located approximately 70 million light-years away in the constellation Virgo. It is a member of the Virgo Cluster, a large collection of galaxies gravitationally bound together. NGC 4206 is viewed almost edge-on from our perspective, which means we see it as a long, thin sliver of light across the sky. This edge-on orientation makes it difficult to study the galaxy's spiral structure in detail, but it also provides an excellent opportunity to study the dust lanes and gas clouds within its galactic disk.

The galaxy was discovered by William Herschel on March 23, 1784. Its apparent magnitude is around 12, meaning it is not visible to the naked eye and requires a telescope to observe. Studies of NGC 4206 have focused on its star formation rate and the distribution of its dust and gas. The edge-on view reveals prominent dust lanes that obscure much of the light from the stars behind them. These dust lanes are sites of active star formation.

NGC 4206 is receding from us at a velocity of approximately 750 kilometers per second. Its physical diameter is estimated to be around 70,000 light-years, making it a sizable galaxy, though smaller than our own Milky Way. Its morphological classification is SA(s)bc, indicating a spiral galaxy with loosely wound arms.