NGC 3169

NGC 3169
NGC 3169 by Hubble Space Telescope
Observation data (J2000 epoch)
ConstellationSextans
Right ascension10h 14m 15.099s[1]
Declination+03° 27′ 58.03″[1]
Redshift+0.004113 ± 0.000017[2]
Heliocentric radial velocity+1,232[3] km/s
Distance57 Mly (17.43 Mpc)[3]
Apparent magnitude (V)10.3
Characteristics
TypeSA(s)a pec[4]
Apparent size (V)4.2′ × 2.9′
Other designations
UGC 5525, PGC 29855[4]
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NGC 3169 is a spiral galaxy about 75 million light years[3] away in the constellation Sextans. It has the morphological classification SA(s)a pec,[5] which indicates this is a pure, unbarred spiral galaxy with tightly-wound arms and peculiar features.[6] There is an asymmetrical spiral arm and an extended halo around the galaxy.[7] It is a member of the NGC 3166 Group of galaxies, which is a member of the Leo II Groups, a series of galaxies and galaxy clusters strung out from the right edge of the Virgo Supercluster.[8]

This is a LINER 2 galaxy that displays an extended emission of X-rays in the region of the nucleus.[9] A hard X-ray source at the center most likely indicates an active galactic nucleus.[10] The stellar population in the nucleus, and a ring at an angular radius of 6″, shows an age of only one billion years and is generally younger than the surrounding stellar population. This suggests that a burst of star formation took place in the nucleus roughly one billion years ago.[5]

NGC 3169 is located in close physical proximity to NGC 3166, and the two have an estimated separation of around 160 kly (50 kpc). Their interaction is creating a gravitational distortion that has left the disk of NGC 3166 warped.[11] Combined with NGC 3156, the three galaxies form a small group within the larger Leo 1 group. The three are embedded within an extended ring of neutral hydrogen that is centered on NGC 3169.[5]

  1. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference ApJ131_1163 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference DeVaucouleurs1991 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ a b c Cite error: The named reference Crook2007 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference ned was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ a b c Cite error: The named reference Silchenko2006 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  6. ^ Cite error: The named reference Buta2007 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  7. ^ Cite error: The named reference Haynes1981 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  8. ^ "The Leo III Groups". Atlas of the Universe. Archived from the original on July 22, 2012. Retrieved 2010-11-27.
  9. ^ Cite error: The named reference Terashima2003 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  10. ^ Cite error: The named reference Mathur2008 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  11. ^ Cite error: The named reference Drory2007 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).