NGC 5195

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NGC 5195

A Hubble Space Telescope (HST) image of Messier 51.
M51A (the Whirlpool Galaxy) is the spiral galaxy on the left.
NGC 5195 is the galaxy in the top right corner.
Credit: HST/STScI/AURA/NASA/ESA.
Observation data: J2000 epoch
Constellation: Canes Venatici
Right ascension: 13h 29m 59.6s[1]
Declination: +47° 15′ 58″[1]
Redshift: 465 ± 10 km/s[1]
Distance: 25 ± 3 Mly (7.7 ± 1.0 Mpc)[2]
Type: Amorphous or SB0 pec[3]
Apparent dimensions (V): 5′.8 × 4′.6[1]
Apparent magnitude (V): 10.5[1]
Notable features:
Other designations
Messier 51B,[1] UGC 8494,[1] PGC 47413,[1] Arp 85[1]
See also: Galaxy, List of galaxies


NGC 5195 (also known as M51B) is a dwarf galaxy that is interacting with the Whirlpool Galaxy (also known as M51A or NGC 5194). Both galaxies are located approximately 25 million light-years away in the constellation Canes Venatici. Together, the two galaxies are one of the most famous interacting galaxy pairs in astronomy.

Contents

[edit] History

M51A was discovered by Pierre Méchain in 1781.[citation needed]

[edit] Interaction with the Whirlpool Galaxy

As stated above, NGC 5195 and the Whirlpool Galaxies are one of the most noted interacting galaxy pairs in astronomy. The two galaxies are listed in the Atlas of Peculiar Galaxies as one of several prominent examples of a spiral galaxy with a companion galaxy,[4] and the system was also the subject of very early theoretical investigations into galaxy interactions.[5] The two galaxies are connected by a dust-rich tidal bridge, and the dust in this tidal bridge can be seen silhouetted against the center of NGC 5195. This demonstrates that NGC 5195 appears to lie behind the Whirlpool Galaxy.[3] The encounter has significantly enhanced the spiral structure of M51.[citation needed]

[edit] Morphology

As a consequence of the gravitational interaction with the Whirlpool Galaxy, NGC 5195 is highly distorted. Classification of its morphology is difficult, as it is sometimes identified as a lenticular galaxy or as amorphous (i.e. irregular).[3] It has been described as falling outside the standard standard morphological classification system.[3]

[edit] Supernova

Supernova 1945A is the only supernova that has been detected within NGC 5195.[1] The supernova was found 10″ northwest of the nucleus on April 6, 1945 by Milton L. Humason using the 100 inch telescope at Mount Wilson Observatory. The supernova, classified as a Type I supernova, reached a peak apparent magnitude of 14.0.[6]

[edit] See also

[edit] External links

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j NASA/IPAC Extragalactic Database. Results for extended name search on NGC 5195. Retrieved on 2006-12-07.
  2. ^ 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. 
  3. ^ a b c d A. Sandage, J. Bedke (1994). Carnegie Atlas of Galaxies. Washington, D.C.: Carnegie Institution of Washington. ISBN 0-87279-667-1. 
  4. ^ H. Arp (1966). "Atlas of Peculiar Galaxies". Astrophysical Journal Supplement 14: 1-20. 
  5. ^ A. Toomre, J. Toomre (1972). "Galactic Bridges and Tails". Astrophysical Journal 178: 623-666. 
  6. ^ M. L. Humason (1945). "Supernova in NGC 5195". Publications of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific 57: 174-175. 
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