NGC 2537

NGC 2537
NGC 2537 imaged in ultraviolet by GALEX.
Observation data (J2000 epoch)
ConstellationLynx
Right ascension8h 13m 14.6s[1]
Declination+45° 59′ 23″[1]
Redshift431 ± 1 km/s[1]
Apparent magnitude (V)12.3[1]
Characteristics
TypeSB(rs)dm[1]
Apparent size (V)1.7 × 1.5[1]
Other designations
Arp 6, UGC 4274, Mrk 86, PGC 23040[1]

NGC 2537, also known as the Bear Paw Galaxy, Bear Claw Galaxy, Arp 6, or Mrk 86, is a blue compact dwarf galaxy in the constellation Lynx, located around 3 degrees NNW of 31 Lyncis.[2] It was discovered on 6 February 1788 by German-British astronomer William Herschel.[3]

NGC 2537 belongs to the iE class of Blue Compact Dwarf (BCD) classification, which is described as galactic spectra with an underlying smooth elliptical Low Surface Brightness component with a superimposed "knotted" star formation component (Gil de Paz et al., 2000, Page 378 Astron. Astrophys. Suppl. Ser. 145).

NGC 2537 was long thought to be possibly interacting with IC 2233. However, this is now considered highly unlikely as radio observations with the Very Large Array showed the two galaxies lie at different distances.[4]

Although no supernovae have been observed in NGC 2537 yet, a luminous blue variable, designated AT 2017be (type LBV, mag. 18.5), was discovered on 6 January 2017.[5]

  1. ^ a b c d e f g "NASA/IPAC Extragalactic Database". Results for NGC 2537. Retrieved 2007-04-01.
  2. ^ Plotner, Tammy (2007). The Night Sky Companion: A Yearly Guide to Sky-Watching 2008-2009. New York, New York: Springer Science. p. 65. ISBN 978-0-387-71609-1.
  3. ^ Seligman, Courtney. "New General Catalogue Objects: NGC 2537". Celestial Atlas. Retrieved 31 August 2024.
  4. ^ Matthews, Lynn D.; Uson, Juan M. (2008). "H I Imaging Observations of Superthin Galaxies. II. IC 2233 and the Blue Compact Dwarf NGC 2537". The Astronomical Journal. 135 (1): 291–318. arXiv:0709.4249. Bibcode:2008AJ....135..291M. doi:10.1088/0004-6256/135/1/291. S2CID 15329889.
  5. ^ "AT 2017be". Transient Name Server. IAU. Retrieved 31 August 2024.