This is a list of galaxies with richest known globular cluster systems. As of 2019, the galaxy NGC 6166 has the richest globular cluster system, with 39 000 globular clusters. [1] Other galaxies with rich globular cluster systems are NGC 4874, NGC 4889, NGC 3311 and Messier 87. For comparison, the Milky Way has a poor globular cluster system, with only 150-180 globular clusters.
Galaxy | Image | Number of globular clusters | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
NGC 6166 | 39 000 ± 2000 [1] | Richest known globular cluster system | |
NGC 4874 | 18 700 ± 2260 [2] | Richest globular cluster system in Coma cluster | |
NGC 3311 | 16 500 ± 2000 [3] | Richest globular cluster system in southern part of the sky and in Hydra cluster | |
Messier 87 | 12 000 ± 800 [4] | Richest globular cluster system in Virgo Supercluster and richest in Messier Catalog. Also richest within 100 million light-years. Data from 2006 survey | |
NGC 4889 | 11 000 ± 1340 [5] | Largest galaxy in this list (diameter is about 1050 000 light-years) | |
IC 4051 | 6700 ± 530 [5] | Richest globular cluster system in IC catalog | |
NGC 1395 | 6000 ± 1100 | Richest globular cluster system in Eridanus Cluster, divided into two populations (red and blue) | |
NGC 1399 | 6000 ± 600 | Richest globular cluster system in Fornax Cluster, most clusters are given | |
Messier 49 | 5900 | ||
Messier 60 | 5100 [6] | ||
Messier 86 | 3800 | Richest globular cluster system in Markarian's Chain | |
NGC 6861 | 3000 ± 300 [7] | ||
NGC 1600 | 2850 | ||
Messier 59 | 2200 | ||
Messier 89 | 2000 | Data from 2006 survey | |
Messier 84 | 1775 ± 150 | ||
Sombrero Galaxy | 1600 ± 400 | Richest globular cluster system around named galaxy | |
Centaurus A | 1450 ± 160 [8] | ||
NGC 4278 | 1378+32 −194 |
||
NGC 4926 | 1300 ± 300 [5] | ||
Maffei 1 | 1100 | Closest galaxy in this list (distance is about 11 000 000 light-years) |
This is a list of galaxies with richest known globular cluster systems. As of 2019, the galaxy NGC 6166 has the richest globular cluster system, with 39 000 globular clusters. [1] Other galaxies with rich globular cluster systems are NGC 4874, NGC 4889, NGC 3311 and Messier 87. For comparison, the Milky Way has a poor globular cluster system, with only 150-180 globular clusters.
Galaxy | Image | Number of globular clusters | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
NGC 6166 | 39 000 ± 2000 [1] | Richest known globular cluster system | |
NGC 4874 | 18 700 ± 2260 [2] | Richest globular cluster system in Coma cluster | |
NGC 3311 | 16 500 ± 2000 [3] | Richest globular cluster system in southern part of the sky and in Hydra cluster | |
Messier 87 | 12 000 ± 800 [4] | Richest globular cluster system in Virgo Supercluster and richest in Messier Catalog. Also richest within 100 million light-years. Data from 2006 survey | |
NGC 4889 | 11 000 ± 1340 [5] | Largest galaxy in this list (diameter is about 1050 000 light-years) | |
IC 4051 | 6700 ± 530 [5] | Richest globular cluster system in IC catalog | |
NGC 1395 | 6000 ± 1100 | Richest globular cluster system in Eridanus Cluster, divided into two populations (red and blue) | |
NGC 1399 | 6000 ± 600 | Richest globular cluster system in Fornax Cluster, most clusters are given | |
Messier 49 | 5900 | ||
Messier 60 | 5100 [6] | ||
Messier 86 | 3800 | Richest globular cluster system in Markarian's Chain | |
NGC 6861 | 3000 ± 300 [7] | ||
NGC 1600 | 2850 | ||
Messier 59 | 2200 | ||
Messier 89 | 2000 | Data from 2006 survey | |
Messier 84 | 1775 ± 150 | ||
Sombrero Galaxy | 1600 ± 400 | Richest globular cluster system around named galaxy | |
Centaurus A | 1450 ± 160 [8] | ||
NGC 4278 | 1378+32 −194 |
||
NGC 4926 | 1300 ± 300 [5] | ||
Maffei 1 | 1100 | Closest galaxy in this list (distance is about 11 000 000 light-years) |