NGC 4696 is an elliptical galaxy in the constellation Centaurus. Its velocity with respect to the cosmic microwave background is 3,251±23 km/s, which corresponds to a Hubble distance of 156.4 ± 11.0 Mly (47.95 ± 3.38 Mpc). However, 25 non-redshift measurements give a much closer mean distance of 122.63 ± 3.90 Mly (37.600 ± 1.196 Mpc). It was discovered by British astronomer James Dunlop on 7 May 1826.
NGC 4696 is the brightest galaxy in the Centaurus Cluster, a large, rich cluster of galaxies in the constellation of the same name. The galaxy is surrounded by many dwarf elliptical galaxies also located within the cluster. There is believed to be a supermassive black hole at the center of the galaxy.
