NGC 6217

NGC 6217
NGC 6217 photographed by the Hubble Space Telescope
Observation data (J2000 epoch)
ConstellationUrsa Minor
Right ascension16h 32m 39.217s[1]
Declination+78° 11′ 53.56″[1]
Redshift0.004543 ± 0.000013[2]
Heliocentric radial velocity1,368[3] km/s
Distance67.2 Mly (20.6 Mpc)[3]
Apparent magnitude (V)11.2[4]
Characteristics
Type(R)SB(rs)bc[5]
Apparent size (V)55,000 light years
Other designations
ARP 185, UGC 10470[2][6]
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NGC 6217 is a barred spiral galaxy located some 67 million light years away,[3] in the constellation Ursa Minor. It can be located with a 10 cm (4 in) or larger telescope as an 11th magnitude object about 2.5° east-northeast of the star Zeta Ursae Minoris.[4] The galaxy is inclined by an angle of 33° to the line of sight along a position angle of 162°.[3]

A morphological classification of (R')SB(rs)bc[5] indicates that NGC 6217 has a false outer ring-like structure formed from the spiral arms (R'), a well-defined bar running across the nucleus (SB), a partial inner ring (rs), and moderately-wound spiral arms (bc).[7] The nucleus is spherical in shape, showing no indication of oblateness.[5] The prominent bar spans an angular distance of 48″ (48 arc seconds) across the galaxy along a position angle of 35.97° ± 0.35°. At 10″ southeast of the nucleus is a prominent region of star formation. The inner ring is about 43″.5 across.[8]

NGC 6217 has been characterized as a starburst galaxy, which means it is undergoing a high rate of star formation compared to a typical galaxy. As a result, the spectrum is dominated by stellar photoionization from young, hot stars.[9] This component is less than 10 million years old, producing a blue-hued spectral continuum with absorption weak lines from elements other than hydrogen and helium.[6] At the core of the galaxy is a low-luminosity active galactic nucleus which has formed an H II region.[10]

One supernova has been observed in NGC 6217: SN 2018gj (type II, mag 14.4).[11]

  1. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference ApJ131_1163 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference NED was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ a b c d Cite error: The named reference Gusev2012 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference OMeara2007 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ a b c Cite error: The named reference Ann2003 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  6. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference Fernandes2004 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  7. ^ Cite error: The named reference Buta2007 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  8. ^ Cite error: The named reference Cabrera2004 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  9. ^ Cite error: The named reference Elfhag1996 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  10. ^ Cite error: The named reference Cetty2010 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  11. ^ Transient Name Server entry for SN 2018gj. Retrieved 5 January 2023.