NGC 3312 | |
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![]() Pan-STARRS image of NGC 3312 | |
Observation data (J2000 epoch) | |
Constellation | Hydra |
Right ascension | 10h 37m 02.5s [1] |
Declination | −27° 33′ 54″ [1] |
Redshift | 0.009627 [1] |
Helio radial velocity | 2886 km/s [1] |
Distance | 194 Mly (59.4 Mpc) [1] |
Group or cluster | Hydra Cluster |
Apparent magnitude (V) | 12.68 [1] |
Characteristics | |
Type | SA(s)b pec?, Jellyfish, LINER [1] |
Size | ~52 kpc (170,000 ly) (estimated) [2] |
Apparent size (V) | 3.3 x 1.3 [1] |
Other designations | |
IC 629, ESO 501-43, AM 1034-271, IRAS 10346-2718, MCG -4-25-39, PGC 31513 [1] |
NGC 3312 is a large [3] and highly inclined [4] spiral galaxy [5] located about 194 million light-years away [6] in the constellation Hydra. [7] The galaxy was discovered by astronomer John Herschel on March 26, 1835. It was later rediscovered by astronomer Guillaume Bigourdan on February 26, 1887. NGC 3312 was later listed and equated with IC 629 because the two objects share essentially the same celestial coordinates. [8] [9] NGC 3312 is the largest spiral galaxy [3] in the Hydra Cluster [3] [10] and is also classified as a LINER galaxy. [11] [4]
NGC 3312 appears to be highly distorted with sharp dust lanes. There are sharp filamentary extensions to the north and an internal ringlike structure in the galaxy. The interstellar matter in the galaxy also appears highly disturbed. These features caused astronomer De Vaucouleurs to suggest that NGC 3312 was distorted by the giant elliptical galaxies NGC 3309 and NGC 3311 which are the dominant ellipticals in the Hydra Cluster. However, NGC 3309 and NGC 3311 are too distant and their relative velocity differences too large for either elliptical to cause the filamentary extensions observed in NGC 3312. It is more likely that NGC 3312 is interacting with the intracluster medium causing ram-pressure stripping which is stripping the interstellar medium of the galaxy. This may have caused the filamentary extensions observed in NGC 3312 as evidenced by the location of the galaxy near the cluster core. [12] As a result, this galaxy can be considered part of a rare class of galaxies, known as jellyfish galaxies.
Although NGC 3312's morphological structure resembles that of anemic galaxies, its mean surface-brightness profile hints that star formation may be quite active. The northwest filamentary extension from NGC 3312 has high surface brightness and has the knotted texture characteristic of active star-forming regions in spiral arms. Also, the internal dust lane of NGC 3312 is ringed with bright condensations. [12]
NGC 3312 contains an unresolved strong radio source in its core with a strength of 27 mJy and radio emission in the disk with a strength of 24 mJy mostly being confined to the spiral arms of the galaxy or regions of star formation. [13]
The Hydra Cluster is a galaxy cluster that contains 157 bright galaxies, appearing in the constellation Hydra. The cluster spans about ten million light-years and has an unusually high proportion of dark matter. The cluster is part of the Hydra–Centaurus Supercluster located 158 million light-years from Earth. The cluster's largest galaxies are elliptical galaxies NGC 3309 and NGC 3311 and the spiral galaxy NGC 3312 all having a diameter of about 150,000 light-years. In spite of a nearly circular appearance on the sky, there is evidence in the galaxy velocities for a clumpy, three-dimensional distribution.
NGC 7013 is a relatively nearby spiral or lenticular galaxy estimated to be around 37 to 41.4 million light-years away from Earth in the constellation of Cygnus. NGC 7013 was discovered by English astronomer William Herschel on July 17, 1784 and was also observed by his son, astronomer John Herschel on September 15, 1828.
NGC 4476 is a lenticular galaxy located about 55 million light-years away in the constellation Virgo. NGC 4476 was discovered by astronomer William Herschel on April 12, 1784. The galaxy is a member of the Virgo Cluster.
NGC 4492 is a spiral galaxy located about 90 million light-years away in the constellation Virgo. NGC 4492 was discovered by astronomer William Herschel on December 28, 1785. It was rediscovered by astronomer Arnold Schwassmann on January 23, 1900 and was listed as IC 3438. NGC 4492 lies in the direction of the Virgo Cluster. However, it is not considered to be a member of that cluster.
NGC 3285 is a barred spiral galaxy located about 200 million light-years away in the constellation Hydra. The galaxy was discovered by astronomer John Herschel on March 24, 1835. NGC 3285 is a member of the Hydra Cluster.
NGC 3305 is an elliptical galaxy located about 190 million light-years away in the constellation Hydra. The galaxy was discovered by astronomer John Herschel on March 24, 1835. NGC 3305 is a member of the Hydra Cluster.
NGC 3307 is a lenticular galaxy located about 185 million light-years away in the constellation Hydra. The galaxy was discovered by astronomer John Herschel on March 22, 1836 and is a member of the Hydra Cluster.
NGC 3308 is a lenticular galaxy with a faint bar located about 174 million light-years away in the constellation Hydra. NGC 3308 was discovered by astronomer John Herschel on March 24, 1835. It is a member of the Hydra Cluster.
NGC 3309 is a giant elliptical galaxy located about 200 million light-years away in the constellation Hydra. NGC 3309 was discovered by astronomer John Herschel on March 24, 1835. The galaxy forms a pair with NGC 3311 which lies about 72,000 ly (22 kpc) away. Both galaxies dominate the center of the Hydra Cluster.
NGC 3311 is a supergiant elliptical galaxy located about 190 million light-years away in the constellation Hydra. The galaxy was discovered by astronomer John Herschel on March 30, 1835. NGC 3311 is the brightest member of the Hydra Cluster and forms a pair with NGC 3309 which along with NGC 3311, dominate the central region of the Hydra Cluster.
NGC 3313 is a large barred spiral galaxy located about 55 megaparsecs away in the constellation Hydra. It was discovered by astronomer Ormond Stone in 1886 and is an outlying member of the Hydra Cluster.
NGC 3315 is a lenticular galaxy located about 185 million light-years away in the constellation Hydra. It was discovered by astronomer Edward Austin on March 24, 1870. It is a member of the Hydra Cluster.
NGC 3316 is a barred lenticular galaxy located about 190 million light-years away in the constellation Hydra. The galaxy was discovered by astronomer John Herschel on March 26, 1835. NGC 3316 is a member of the Hydra Cluster, and appears to have a small companion galaxy known as HCC 15.
NGC 3336 is a barred spiral galaxy located about 190 million light-years away in the constellation Hydra. It was discovered by astronomer John Herschel on March 24, 1835. NGC 3336 is a member of the Hydra Cluster.
NGC 3369 is a lenticular galaxy located about 175 million light-years away in the constellation Hydra. NGC 3369 was discovered by astronomer Ormond Stone in 1886 and is an outlying member of the Hydra Cluster.
NGC 1267 is an elliptical galaxy located about 220 million light-years away in the constellation Perseus. NGC 1267 was discovered by astronomer Heinrich d'Arrest on February 14, 1863. NGC 1267 is a member of the Perseus Cluster and is possibly interacting with the spiral galaxy NGC 1268.
NGC 3821 is a low surface brightness spiral galaxy and a ring galaxy about 270 million light-years away in the constellation Leo. The galaxy was discovered by astronomer William Herschel on April 26, 1785 and is a member of the Leo Cluster.
NGC 3840 is a spiral galaxy located about 320 million light-years away in the constellation Leo. The galaxy was discovered by astronomer Heinrich d'Arrest on May 8, 1864. NGC 3840 is a member of the Leo Cluster. The galaxy is rich in neutral atomic hydrogen and is not interacting with its environment.
NGC 4207 is a spiral galaxy located about 50 million light-years away in the constellation Virgo. The galaxy was discovered by astronomer Heinrich d'Arrest on March 23, 1865. NGC 4207 is a member of the Virgo Cluster.
NGC 3883 is a large low surface brightness spiral galaxy located about 330 million light-years away in the constellation Leo. NGC 3883 has a prominent bulge but does not host an AGN. The galaxy also has flocculent spiral arms in its disk. It was discovered by astronomer William Herschel on April 13, 1785 and is a member of the Leo Cluster.