NGC 3783

NGC 3783
Hubble Space Telescope image of NGC 3793
Observation data (J2000 epoch)
ConstellationCentaurus
Right ascension11h 39m 01.721s[1]
Declination–37° 44′ 18.60″[1]
Redshift0.008506 ± 0.000100[2]
Heliocentric radial velocity+2,817[3] km/s
Distance135.7 Mly (41.60[4] Mpc)
Group or clusterNGC 3783 group
Apparent magnitude (V)13.43
Characteristics
TypeSBa[5]
Apparent size (V)1′.9 × 1′.7[5]
Notable featuresSeyfert 1
Other designations
MCG -06-26-004, PGC 36101[6]

NGC 3783 is a barred spiral galaxy located about 135[4] million light years away in the constellation Centaurus.[7] It is inclined by an angle of 23° to the line of sight from the Earth along a position angle of about 163°. The morphological classification of SBa[5] indicates a bar structure across the center (B) and tightly-wound spiral arms (a).[8] Although not shown by this classification, observers note the galaxy has a luminous inner ring surrounding the bar structure. The bright compact nucleus is active and categorized as a Seyfert 1 type. This nucleus is a strong source of X-ray emission and undergoes variations in emission across the electromagnetic spectrum.[5]

Artist's impression of the surroundings of the supermassive black hole in NGC 3783 (ESO)

The source of the activity in this galaxy is a rapidly rotating supermassive black hole, which is located at the core and is surrounded by an accretion disk of dust.[9] The estimated mass of this black hole, from reverberation mapping, is about 2.8 million times the mass of the Sun.[10] Interferometric observations yield an inner radius of 0.52 ± 0.16 ly (0.16 ± 0.05 pc) for the orbiting torus of dust.[11]

This is a member of a loose association of 47 galaxies known as the NGC 3783 group. Located at a mean distance of 117 million light-years (36 Mpc), the group is centered at coordinates α = 11h 37m 12s, δ = –37° 30′ 57.6″: equivalent to about 870×10^3 ly (267 kpc) from NGC 3783. The NGC 3783 group has a mean velocity of 2,903 ± 26 km/s with respect to the Sun and a velocity dispersion of 190 ± 24 km/s. The diffuse X-ray emission of the group is roughly centered on the galaxy NGC 3783.[12] The NGC 3783 group is located in the Hydra-Antlia region of the Hydra-Centurus Supercluster.[13][14]

  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 APJSS83_1_29 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ Cite error: The named reference MNRAS399_2_683 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference ApJ725_2270 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ a b c d Cite error: The named reference AAA348_685 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  6. ^ "NGC 3783". SIMBAD. Centre de données astronomiques de Strasbourg. Retrieved 2021-02-19.
  7. ^ Cite error: The named reference ESO_20june2013 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  8. ^ Cite error: The named reference Buta2007 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  9. ^ Cite error: The named reference ApJ736_2_103 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  10. ^ Cite error: The named reference Bentz was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  11. ^ Cite error: The named reference AAA541_L9 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  12. ^ Cite error: The named reference MNRAS_371_2_739 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  13. ^ Tully, R. Brent (1988). Nearby galaxies catalog. Cambridge ; New York: Cambridge University Press. ISBN 978-0-521-35299-4.
  14. ^ Fouque, P.; Gourgoulhon, E.; Chamaraux, P.; Paturel, G. (1992-05-01). "Groups of galaxies within 80 Mpc. II. The catalogue of groups and group members". Astronomy and Astrophysics Supplement Series. 93: 211–233. Bibcode:1992A&AS...93..211F. ISSN 0365-0138.