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NGC 3226

NGC 3226
NGC 3227 (left) and NGC 3226 (right)
Observation data (J2000 epoch)
ConstellationLeo
Right ascension10h 23m 27.0s[1]
Declination+19° 53′ 55″[1]
Redshift1151 ± 10 km/s[1]
Apparent magnitude (V)12.3[1]
Characteristics
TypeE2 pec[1]
Apparent size (V)3.2′ × 2.8′[1]
Other designations
HOLM 187B, Arp 94, UGC 5617, MCG +03-27-015, PGC 30440, CGCG 094-026, VV 209b[1]

NGC 3226 is a dwarf elliptical galaxy that is interacting with the spiral galaxy NGC 3227. They were both discovered by German-British astronomer William Herschel on 15 February 1784.[2] The two galaxies are one of several examples of a spiral with a dwarf elliptical companion that are listed in the Atlas of Peculiar Galaxies.[3] Both galaxies may be found in the constellation Leo. It is a member of the NGC 3227 Group of galaxies, which is a member of the Leo II Groups, a series of galaxies and galaxy clusters strung out from the right edge of the Virgo Supercluster.[4]

One supernova has been observed in NGC 3226: SN 1976K (type unknown, mag. 17) was discovered by Arnold Klemola on 21 December 1976.[5][6]

Nucleus

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NGC 3226 contains a low-ionization nuclear emission-line region (LINER), a type of region that is characterized by spectral line emission from weakly ionized atoms.[7] In general, the energy source for LINER emission has been a subject of debate among astronomers. Some astronomers have asserted that LINERs are powered by star formation regions, while other have asserted that LINERs are powered by active galactic nuclei (AGN) which contain supermassive black holes.

AGN

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The nucleus of NGC 3226 appears to contain an AGN. The nucleus is a strong source of both radio[8][9] and X-ray[10] emission that appears to be synchrotron emission, which is generated when electrons moving at high speeds oscillate within magnetic fields. Such synchrotron emission is expected from the environment around a supermassive black hole. The X-ray emission may also be variable, which is also expected in the environment of a supermassive black hole.[10]

Interstellar medium

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It is possible that NGC 3226 may be acquiring gas from NGC 3227 during the interaction process, which would enhance star formation within NGC 3226. However, millimeter observations of NGC 3226 failed to detect any molecular gas within the galaxy. These results not only demonstrate that NGC 3226 contains little molecular gas but also demonstrate that the galaxy has acquired no gas from NGC 3227.[11]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g "NASA/IPAC Extragalactic Database". Results for NGC 3226. Retrieved 2007-01-14.
  2. ^ Seligman, Courtney. "New General Catalogue Objects: NGC 3226". Celestial Atlas. Retrieved 4 December 2024.
  3. ^ H. Arp (1966). "Atlas of Peculiar Galaxies". Astrophysical Journal Supplement. 14: 1–20. Bibcode:1966ApJS...14....1A. doi:10.1086/190147.
  4. ^ "The Leo III Groups". Atlas of the Universe. Archived from the original on July 22, 2012. Retrieved 2010-11-27.
  5. ^ "SN 1976K". Transient Name Server. IAU. Retrieved 4 December 2024.
  6. ^ Klemola, A. R.; Jones, B. F.; Harlan, E. A. (1977). "Supernova in NGC 3226". International Astronomical Union Circular (3029): 1. Bibcode:1977IAUC.3029....1K.
  7. ^ L. C. Ho; A. V. Filippenko; W. L. W. Sargent (1997). "A Search for "Dwarf" Seyfert Nuclei. III. Spectroscopic Parameters and Properties of the Host Galaxies". Astrophysical Journal Supplement. 112 (2): 315–390. arXiv:astro-ph/9704107. Bibcode:1997ApJS..112..315H. doi:10.1086/313041. S2CID 17086638.
  8. ^ N. M. Nagar; H. Falcke; A. S. Wilson; L. C. Ho (2000). "Radio Sources in Low-Luminosity Active Galactic Nuclei. I. VLA Detections of Compact, Flat-Spectrum Cores". Astrophysical Journal. 542 (1): 186–196. arXiv:astro-ph/0005382. Bibcode:2000ApJ...542..186N. doi:10.1086/309524. S2CID 14110152.
  9. ^ H. Falcke; N. M. Nagar; A. S. Wilson; J. S. Ulvestad (2000). "Radio Sources in Low-Luminosity Active Galactic Nuclei. II. Very Long Baseline Interferometry Detections of Compact Radio Cores and Jets in a Sample of LINERs". Astrophysical Journal. 542 (1): 197–200. arXiv:astro-ph/0005383. Bibcode:2000ApJ...542..197F. doi:10.1086/309543. S2CID 16753730.
  10. ^ a b I. M. George; R. F. Mushotzky; T. Yaqoob; T. J. Turner; et al. (2001). "X-Ray Emission from the Nucleus of the Dwarf Elliptical Galaxy NGC 3226". Astrophysical Journal. 559 (1): 167–172. arXiv:astro-ph/0105083. Bibcode:2001ApJ...559..167G. doi:10.1086/322389. S2CID 12204003.
  11. ^ H. Cullen; P. Alexander; M. H. Clemens (2006). "Gas in early-type galaxies: cross-fuelling in late-type-early-type pairs?". Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society. 366 (1): 49–57. Bibcode:2006MNRAS.366...49C. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2966.2005.09662.x.
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