astronomy

NGC 6744

NGC 6744 is a astronomy topic covered in the lgStudy science library. This page brings together a partial reference excerpt, illustrations, worked examples, real-world applications and a short study plan, so you can understand NGC 6744 rather than just read about it. In short: NGC 6744 (also known as Caldwell 101 or the Pavo Galaxy) is an intermediate spiral galaxy in the constellation Pavo (Peacock). Its velocity with respect to the cosmic microwave background is 802 ± 3 km/s, which corresponds to a Hubble distance of 38.6 ± 2.7 Mly (11.82 ± 0.83 Mpc).

Key takeaways

NGC 6744 belongs to astronomy; place it in that map before memorising details.
Learn the definition first, then one example that makes the definition concrete.
Connect NGC 6744 to a quantity you can measure, compute or draw — that is where exam questions come from.
Reproduce the core statement of NGC 6744 from memory before moving on to harder problems.

Reference excerpt

NGC 6744 (also known as Caldwell 101 or the Pavo Galaxy) is an intermediate spiral galaxy in the constellation Pavo (Peacock). Its velocity with respect to the cosmic microwave background is 802 ± 3 km/s, which corresponds to a Hubble distance of 38.6 ± 2.7 Mly (11.82 ± 0.83 Mpc). However, 21 non redshift measurements give a distance of 23.63 ± 1.68 Mly (7.244 ± 0.514 Mpc). It was discovered on 30 June 1826 by Scottish astronomer James Dunlop, observing from Parramatta, Australia. It has a mass of 5.92×1010 M☉. One of the largest spiral galaxies in the local universe, NGC 6744 is considered a Milky Way mimic in the immediate vicinity, displaying remarkable star formation, flocculent (fluffy) arms, and an elongated core. It has at least one distorted companion galaxy (NGC 6744A) superficially similar to one of the Magellanic Clouds. NGC 6744 is a LINER galaxy, i.e., its nucleus has an emission spectrum characterized by broad lines of weakly ionized atoms. The galaxy has an active galactic nucleus (AGN) of low luminosity. NGC 6744 lies within the Virgo Supercluster.

Supernovae Two supernovae have been observed in NGC 6744:

R. Martin and Berto Monard discovered SN 2005at (Type Ic, mag. 16) on 15 March 2005. BlackGEM discovered another astronomical transient, designated SN 2024vjm, on 13 September 2024. After initial Spectral analysis, the star was classified as a peculiar nova, but further observations showed the object to be a faint Type Iax supernova, likely the closest known of this type.

Gallery

See also List of NGC objects (6001–7000) NGC 2336 – another spiral galaxy of similar size and shape NGC 1232 SPT0418-47 – a spiral galaxy of similar size and shape when the universe was 1.4 billion years old UGC 12158 UGC 6093 Milky Way

References

External links

NGC 6744 on WikiSky: DSS2, SDSS, GALEX, IRAS, Hydrogen α, X-Ray, Astrophoto, Sky Map, Articles and images NGC 6744, a Milky Way-like spiral galaxy NGC 6744 (Pav) Archived 2011-06-04 at the Wayback Machine June 4, 2010 – A Sibling of the Milky Way (Wise image of NGC 6744) A spiral galaxy that resembles our Milky Way (1 June 2011) Merrifield, Michael. "NGC 6744 The Milky Way's Twin". Sixty Symbols. Brady Haran for the University of Nottingham. NASA Astronomy Picture of the Day: NGC 6744 Close Up (May 31, 2018)

Illustrations

Worked examples

Example 1 — a first encounter with NGC 6744

Start with the simplest possible case. Write down what NGC 6744 claims or describes in one sentence, then invent the smallest concrete situation in which that sentence is true. In astronomy, the smallest case is usually a single object, a single equation or a single measurement. Check that every symbol or term in your sentence has a meaning in that case.

Example 2 — changing one variable

Take the situation from Example 1 and change exactly one quantity: double it, halve it, or set it to zero. Predict what should happen to NGC 6744 before you calculate. Comparing your prediction with the result is the fastest way to find out whether you understand the idea or only the words.

Example 3 — an exam-style question

Typical questions about NGC 6744 ask you to (a) state it precisely, (b) apply it to given data, and (c) explain a limitation. Practise writing all three answers in under five minutes; the third part is what separates a full-mark answer from an average one.

Applications of NGC 6744

In research: NGC 6744 appears in astronomy research whenever the underlying quantities have to be modelled precisely. Papers usually cite it as a starting assumption and then explore where it breaks down.
In technology and industry: Engineering practice reuses NGC 6744 in design rules, simulations and safety margins. Knowing the idea lets you read a specification sheet and understand why the numbers look the way they do.
In the classroom: NGC 6744 is common in secondary-school and first-year university syllabi. It links to neighbouring topics Astronomical objects discovered in 1826, Caldwell objects, Discoveries by James Dunlop, so understanding it makes those chapters shorter.
In everyday life: Look for NGC 6744 outside the textbook — in sport, cooking, traffic, electronics or the sky above you. An example you found yourself is remembered far longer than one you were given.

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How to study NGC 6744 in 20 minutes

Read the reference excerpt below once, without taking notes.
Close the page and write down what NGC 6744 means in your own words.
Compare your version with the excerpt and mark what you missed.
Work through the three examples above with pen and paper.
Explain NGC 6744 out loud to somebody else — or to Teacher Smith in the lgStudy chat.

Frequently asked questions

What is NGC 6744 in simple terms?

Why does NGC 6744 matter?

Because it connects several astronomy ideas at once: it gives you a definition you can apply, a quantity you can calculate, and a way to check whether a result is plausible.

How should I study NGC 6744?

Read the excerpt, restate it from memory, then work through the examples and applications listed on this page. The five-step study plan above takes about twenty minutes.

What does this page cover?

It gives you a compact reference excerpt plus original lgStudy explanations, examples, applications and study material on NGC 6744.