NGC 3314
NGC 3314 is a pair of overlapping spiral galaxies between 117 and 140 million light-years away in the constellation Hydra. This unique alignment gives astronomers the opportunity to measure the properties of interstellar dust in the face-on foreground galaxy (NGC 3314a). The dust appears dark against the background galaxy (NGC 3314b). Unlike interacting galaxies, the two components of NGC 3314 are physically unrelated. It was discovered in April 1999.
NGC 3314 | |
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NGC 3314a (foreground) and NGC 3314b (background) taken by the Hubble Space Telescope | |
Observation data (J2000 epoch) | |
Constellation | Hydra |
Right ascension | 10h 37m 12.5s |
Declination | −27° 41′ 05″ |
Redshift | +0.0095 (a) +0.01548 (b) |
Distance | 117 Mly (a) 140 million ly (b) |
Apparent magnitude (V) | +12.5 |
Characteristics | |
Type | SBbc/SAab |
Apparent size (V) | 2′.6 × 1′.7 |
Notable features | galaxy overlapping another |
Other designations | |
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In a March 2000 observation of the galaxies, a prominent green star-like object was seen in one of the arms. Astronomers theorized that it could have been a supernova, but the unique filtering properties of the foreground galaxy made it difficult to decide definitively.[1]
Both galaxies are members of the Hydra Cluster.[2]
References
- Keel, Bill; Frattare, Lisa. "NGC 3314 Variable Object". heritage.stsci.edu. Retrieved 2015-11-05.
- Richter, O.-G. (February 1989). "The Hydra I cluster of galaxies. V - A catalogue of galaxies in the cluster area". Astronomy and Astrophysics Supplement Series. 77: 237–256. Bibcode:1989A&AS...77..237R.
External links
- Media related to NGC 3314 at Wikimedia Commons
- "Hubble Spies Galaxy Silhouettes". ScienceDaily. 25 September 2008. Retrieved 25 March 2018.
- Nemiroff, R.; Bonnell, J., eds. (7 May 2005). "NGC 3314: When Galaxies Overlap". Astronomy Picture of the Day. NASA. Retrieved 25 March 2018.
- NGC 3314 on WikiSky: DSS2, SDSS, GALEX, IRAS, Hydrogen α, X-Ray, Astrophoto, Sky Map, Articles and images
- "NGC 3314". SIMBAD. Centre de données astronomiques de Strasbourg.