NGC 4625

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NGC 4625
NGC4625 - HST - Potw1746a.tif
Observation data (J2000 epoch)
Constellation Canes Venatici [1]
Right ascension 12h 41m 52.7s [2]
Declination +41° 16′ 26″ [2]
Redshift 609 ± 1 km/s [2]
Apparent magnitude  (V)13.2g [2]
Characteristics
Type SAB(rs)m pec [2]
Apparent size  (V)1.3′ × 1.2′ [2]
Notable featuresAsymmetric; Single spiral arm [3]
Other designations
IC 3675, [2] UGC 7861, [2] PGC 42607 [2]

NGC 4625 is a distorted dwarf galaxy in the constellation Canes Venatici. The galaxy is formally classified as a Sm galaxy, which means that its structure vaguely resembles the structure of spiral galaxies. The galaxy is sometimes referred to as a Magellanic spiral because of its resemblance to the Large Magellanic Cloud's single-arm structure.

Contents

Structure

An ultraviolet image of NGC 4625 taken with GALEX shows a disc four times larger than what is seen in visible light NGC 4625 I FUV g2006.jpg
An ultraviolet image of NGC 4625 taken with GALEX shows a disc four times larger than what is seen in visible light

Unlike most spiral galaxies, NGC 4625 has a single spiral arm, which gives the galaxy an asymmetric appearance. [3] It has been hypothesized that this galaxy's asymmetric structure may be the result of a gravitational interaction with NGC 4618. [3] Such asymmetric structure is commonly seen among many interacting galaxies. However, observations of neutral hydrogen gas in NGC 4618 and NGC 4625 show that NGC 4625 does not appear to have been affected by the gravitational interaction. [4] This indicates that the single-arm structure seen in NGC 4625 may be created through intrinsic processes.

Ultraviolet observations of NGC 4625 made by the Galaxy Evolution Explorer (GALEX) show the presence of an extended disk. The new spiral disk extrends 28,000 light-years from the galaxy center, a staggering four times the optical radius. The hot blue stars in this new disk may have formed from the inflow of fresh gas and dust from interaction with its companions, NGC 4618 and NGC 4625A. [5] The UV-to-optical colors suggest that the bulk of the stars in the disk of NGC 4625 are currently being formed, providing a unique opportunity to study today the physics of star formation under conditions similar to those when the normal disks of spiral galaxies like the Milky Way first formed. [6]

Environment

As mentioned above, NGC 4625 is interacting with NGC 4618. [3]

See also

Related Research Articles

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Messier 63</span> Spiral galaxy in the constellation Canes Venatici

Messier 63 or M63, also known as NGC 5055 or the seldom-used Sunflower Galaxy, is a spiral galaxy in the northern constellation of Canes Venatici with approximately 400 billion stars. M63 was first discovered by the French astronomer Pierre Méchain, then later verified by his colleague Charles Messier on June 14, 1779. The galaxy became listed as object 63 in the Messier Catalogue. In the mid-19th century, Anglo-Irish astronomer Lord Rosse identified spiral structures within the galaxy, making this one of the first galaxies in which such structure was identified.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">NGC 6872</span> Galaxy in the constellation Pavo

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">NGC 5713</span> Peculiar and asymmetric galaxy in the constellation Virgo

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">NGC 4618</span> Distorted dwarf barred spiral galaxy in the constellation Canes Venatici

NGC 4618 is a distorted barred dwarf galaxy in the constellation Canes Venatici. The galaxy is formally classified as a Sm galaxy, which means that its structure vaguely resembles the structure of spiral galaxies. The galaxy is sometimes referred to as a Magellanic spiral because of its resemblance to the Magellanic clouds.

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A Magellanic spiral galaxy is a spiral galaxy with only one spiral arm. Magellanic spiral galaxies are classified as the type Sm ; the prototype galaxy and namesake for Magellanic spirals is the Large Magellanic Cloud, an SBm galaxy. They are usually smaller dwarf galaxies and can be considered to be intermediate between dwarf spiral galaxies and irregular galaxies.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">NGC 3860</span> Spiral galaxy in the constellation Leo

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">NGC 7469</span> Galaxy located in the constellation Pegasus

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">NGC 3367</span> Spiral galaxy in the constellation Leo

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">NGC 7130</span> Galaxy in the constellation Piscis Austrinus

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">NGC 4294</span> Galaxy in the constellation Virgo

NGC 4294 is a barred spiral galaxy with flocculent spiral arms located about 55 million light-years away in the constellation Virgo. The galaxy was discovered by astronomer William Herschel on March 15, 1784 and is a member of the Virgo Cluster.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">NGC 4299</span> Spiral galaxy in the constellation Virgo

NGC 4299 is a featureless spiral galaxy located about 55 million light-years away in the constellation Virgo. It was discovered by astronomer William Herschel on March 15, 1784 and is a member of the Virgo Cluster.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">NGC 4302</span> Galaxy in the constellation Coma Berenices

NGC 4302 is an edge-on spiral galaxy located about 55 million light-years away in the constellation Coma Berenices. It was discovered by astronomer William Herschel on April 8, 1784 and is a member of the Virgo Cluster.

References

  1. ↑ R. W. Sinnott, ed. (1988). The Complete New General Catalogue and Index Catalogue of Nebulae and Star Clusters by J. L. E. Dreyer. Sky Publishing Corporation and Cambridge University Press. ISBN   978-0-933346-51-2.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 "NASA/IPAC Extragalactic Database". Results for NGC 4625. Retrieved 2006-12-07.
  3. 1 2 3 4 A. Sandage; J. Bedke (1994). Carnegie Atlas of Galaxies. Washington, D.C.: Carnegie Institution of Washington. ISBN   978-0-87279-667-6.
  4. ↑ S. J. Bush; E. M. Wilcots (2004). "Neutral Hydrogen in the Interacting Magellanic Spirals NGC 4618 and NGC 4625". Astrophysical Journal. 128 (6): 2789–2796. arXiv: astro-ph/0409209 . Bibcode:2004AJ....128.2789B. doi:10.1086/425876. S2CID   14636586.
  5. ↑ Martin Ratcliffe (December 8, 2006). State of the Universe 2007: New Images, Discoveries, and Events. Google Books: Springer Praxis Books. p.  29. ISBN   978-0387341781.
  6. ↑ A. Gil de Paz; et al. (9 June 2005). "Discovery of an Extended Ultraviolet Disk in the Nearby Galaxy NGC 4625". The Astrophysical Journal Letters. 625 (1): 29–32. arXiv: astro-ph/0506357 . Bibcode:2005ApJ...627L..29G. doi:10.1086/432054. S2CID   55384358.


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