NGC 1316
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
|
|
| Observation data: J2000 epoch | |
|---|---|
| Constellation: | Fornax |
| Right ascension: | 03h 22m 41.7s[1] |
| Declination: | -37° 12′ 30″[1] |
| Redshift: | 1760 ± 10 km/s[1] |
| Distance: | 70 ± 5 Mly (21.5 ± 1.7 Mpc)[2] |
| Type: | (R')SAB(s)00[1] |
| Apparent dimensions (V): | 12′.0 × 8′.5[1] |
| Apparent magnitude (V): | 9.4[1] |
| Notable features: | Very bright at radio 1.4 GHz |
| Other designations | |
| Fornax A,[1] PGC 12651,[1] Arp 154[1] | |
| See also: Galaxy, List of galaxies | |
NGC 1316 (also known as Fornax A) is a lenticular galaxy about 70 million light-years away in the constellation Fornax. NGC 1316 is a radio galaxy. It is the fourth-brightest radio source in the sky (as seen at 1400 MHz)[3].
Contents |
[edit] Structure and formation
François Schweizer studied NGC 1316 extensively in the late 1970's. He found that the galaxy appeared to look like a small elliptical galaxy with some unusual dust lanes embedded within a much larger envelope of stars. The outer envelope contained many ripples, loops, and arcs. He also identified the presence of a compact disk of gas near the center that appeared inclined relative to the stars and that appeared to rotate faster than the stars. Based on these results, Schweizwer suggested that NGC 1316 was built up through the merger of several smaller galaxies. These merger events may have fueled the central supermassive black hole with gas, causing the galaxy to become a radio galaxy. He also states that NGC 1316 is comparable to the giant elliptical galaxies found in the centers of other clusters of galaxies[3].
[edit] Companions and environment
NGC 1316 is located within the Fornax Cluster, a cluster of galaxies in the constellation Fornax. However, in contrast to Messier 87, which is a similar elliptical galaxy that is located in the center of the Virgo Cluster, NGC 1316 is located at the edge of the Fornax Cluster[4].
NGC 1316 appears to be interacting with NGC 1317, a small spiral galaxy to the north. However, that small spiral galaxy does not appear to be sufficiently large to cause the distortions seen in the structure of this galaxy[3].
[edit] See also
- Centaurus A - an elliptical/peculiar galaxy that is a strong source of radio emission
- Messier 87 - an elliptical galaxy at the center of the Virgo Cluster that contains relativistic jets originating from a supermassive central black hole
- NGC 1097 - a spiral galaxy with relativistic jets visible in optical light
[edit] External links
[edit] References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i NASA/IPAC Extragalactic Database. Results for NGC 1316. Retrieved on 2006-07-10.
- ^ J. L. Tonry, A. Dressler, J. P. Blakeslee, E. A. Ajhar, A. B. Fletcher, G. A. Luppino, M. R. Metzger, C. B. Moore (2001). "The SBF Survey of Galaxy Distances. IV. SBF Magnitudes, Colors, and Distances". Astrophysical Journal 546 (2): 681-693.
- ^ a b c F. Schweizer (1980). "An Optical Study of the Giant Radio Galaxy NGC 1316 (Fornax A)". Astrophysical Journal 237: 303-318.
- ^ H. C. Ferguson (1989). "Population studies in groups and clusters of galaxies. II - A catalog of galaxies in the central 3.5 deg of the Fornax Cluster". Astronomical Journal 98: 367-418.
