Right ascension 02 23 04.6 Redshift 1509 ± 5 km/s Apparent size (V) 6′.0 × 2′.6 Constellation Cetus | Declination −21° 14′ 02″ Type SA(s)c Magnitude 10.4 Apparent magnitude (V) 10.4 | |
 | ||
Distance 56.0 ± 5.7 Mly (17.2 ± 1.8 Mpc) Similar NGC 936, NGC 584, NGC 157, NGC 613, NGC 1055 | ||
NGC 908 is an unbarred spiral galaxy in the constellation Cetus. It is at a distance of 60 million light years away from Earth. NGC 908 has vigorous star formation and is a starburst galaxy. The galaxy has three-arm spiral pattern, with two arms with peculiar morphology. The central bulge of the galaxy is bright. Cluster of young stars and star forming knots can be seen in the arms. Starburst activity and the peculiar morphology of the galaxy indicated it has a close encounter with another galaxy, although none is visible now. NGC 908 was discovered in 1786 by William Herschel. Two supernovae have been observed in NGC 908, SN 1994ai (Ic type, mag. 17) and SN 2006ce (Ia type, mag. 12.4). It is the main galaxy in the NGC 908 group, which also includes NGC 899, NGC 907 and IC 223.