NGC 7408 is a barred spiral galaxy in the constellation of Tucana. It has an apparent visual magnitude of 13.33 and an angular size of 1.5′ × 1.2′. Its velocity with respect to the cosmic microwave background is 3,372±13 km/s, which corresponds to a Hubble distance of 162.2 ± 11.4 Mly (49.73 ± 3.49 Mpc). However, 12 non-redshift measurements give a closer mean distance of 142.80 ± 5.67 Mly (43.783 ± 1.739 Mpc). It was discovered by British astronomer John Herschel on 1 November 1834.
The morphological classification of NGC 7408 is SB(s)cd, indicating a barred spiral form (SB) with no ring structure (s) and closely wound spiral arms (cd). It a Seyfert II galaxy, it has a quasar-like nucleus with very high surface brightness whose spectra reveal strong, high-ionisation emission lines, but unlike quasars, the host galaxy is clearly detectable.
NGC 7329 group
Supernovae
Two supernovae have been observed in NGC 7408:
- SN 2007bn (type unknown, mag. 17) was discovered by R. Martin and the Perth Observatory Automated Supernova Search on 18 April 2007.
- SN 2009bu (Type II-P, mag. 16.4) was discovered by Alessandro Dimai on 25 March 2009.
