NGC 922

NGC 922
NGC 922
Hubble view of NGC 922
Observation data (J2000 epoch)
ConstellationFornax
Right ascension02h 25m 04.400s[1]
Declination−24° 07′ 17.46″[1]
Redshift0.010314±0.000020[2]
Heliocentric radial velocity3,075 km/s[3]
Distance142 Mly (43.4 Mpc)[4]
Apparent magnitude (V)12.21[5]
Characteristics
TypeSB(s)cd pec[2]
Mass5.47×109 M☉[6] M☉
Apparent size (V)2′.0 × 1′.7[7]
Other designations
AM 0222-250, PSCz Q02228-2500, DUGRS 478-001, ESO 478-28, GSC 06433-00965, IRAS 02228-2500, UGCA 30, MCG -04-06-037, PGC 9172[5]

NGC 922 is a peculiar galaxy in the southern constellation of Fornax, located at a distance of 142 Mly[4] from the Milky Way. It is one of the nearest known collisional galaxies.[8] This object was described by the Herschels as "considerably faint, pretty large, round, gradually pretty much brighter middle."[7] The general form is described by the morphological classification of SB(s)cd pec,[2] which indicates a peculiar (pec) barred spiral galaxy (SB) with no inner ring system around the bar (s) and loosely-wound spiral arms (cd).

This object was originally described as a dust-obscured grand-design galaxy – a term used to indicate a type of spiral galaxy with prominent and well-defined spiral arms. However, observation of its features suggests it has undergone a merger with a gas-rich dwarf galaxy.[9] This has resulted in a distinctive C-shaped ring of H-alpha emission.[10] About 104 kpc away from NGC 922, there is a dwarf galaxy called S2 that was once thought to have been responsible for NGC 922's structure.[6] A stellar plume is seen extending from the galaxy in the direction of S2,[6] located about 8′ away.[8] However, the stellar plume is not connected to S2, and S2 also has it own tidal structure, which would not be possible if it had already "punched" through NGC 922.[9]

The main galaxy has a stellar mass estimated 5.47 billion times the mass of the Sun (solar mass), while the dwarf companion has 28.2 million solar masses. The net mass of NGC 922 is estimated as 75 billion solar masses within a radius of 13.4 kpc, with 72% being in the form of dark matter and 20% as neutral hydrogen.[6] It is a starburst galaxy,[10] and the collision has resulted in star formation at the rate of 7–8 M☉·yr−1. New star clusters have been formed in the ring or bar with a mean age of 16 million years, whereas older clusters of 50 million years or more are predominantly found in the nuclear region. The tidal plume pointing toward the companion mainly consists of much older stars, indicating not much new star formation has taken place in that feature.[8]

Three supernovae have been observed in NGC 922: SN 2008ho (type IIP, mag. 16.5),[11] SN 2002gw (type II, mag. 17.3),[12] and SN 2024fa (type II, mag. 17.98).[13]

  1. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference Skrutskie2006 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ a b c Cite error: The named reference vaucouleurs1991 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ Cite error: The named reference Jones2009 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference mould2000 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference SIMBAD was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  6. ^ a b c d Cite error: The named reference Wong2006 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  7. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference Aranda2011 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  8. ^ a b c Cite error: The named reference Pellerin2010 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  9. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference Martinez-Delgado was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  10. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference Prestwich2012 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  11. ^ Transient Name Server entry for SN 2008ho. Retrieved 2 April 2023.
  12. ^ Transient Name Server entry for SN 2002gw. Retrieved 2 April 2023.
  13. ^ Transient Name Server entry for SN 2024fa. Retrieved 6 January 2024.