 | This article needs additional citations for verification. (March 2018) |
| NGC 3314 | |
|---|---|
 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 | |
| |
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[clarification needed] was discovered in April 1999.
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]
- ^ 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.
- ^ Hess, Kelley M.; Kotulla, Ralf; Chen, Hao; Carignan, Claude; Gallagher, John S.; Jarrett, Thomas H.; Kraan-Korteweg, Renée C. (2022-12-01). "NGC 3314a/b and NGC 3312: Ram pressure stripping in Hydra I cluster substructure". Astronomy and Astrophysics. 668: A184. arXiv:2209.05605. doi:10.1051/0004-6361/202243412. ISSN 0004-6361.