#ngc1313

NGC 1313

NGC 1313 is a barred spiral galaxy located about 15 million light years away towards the constellation Reticulum. It spans about 50,000 light years. NGC 1313 is also classified as a starburst galaxy, one with an unusually high rate of star formation. However, NGC 1313 is unusual for this type of galaxy.

Most starbursts are caused by colliding or interacting galaxies, where the gravitational forces push material around, stimulating star formation. While NGC 1313 does appear lopsided, there is no evidence of a neighbor or remains of a smaller galaxy. The central bar also fails to account for NGC 1313′s starburst activity, as the star formation is occurring in the spiral arms. Also of interest are two ultraluminous X-ray sources (ULX’s), possibly black holes only a few hundred times the mass of our Sun. 

NGC 1313

NGC 1313 is a starburst galaxy located about 15 million light years away. The galaxy has a barred spiral shape, but qualifies as a starburst galaxy due to its high rate of star formation. Starburst galaxies are interesting objects, with massive stars born at thousands of times the rate of that in our Milky Way.

NGC 1313 in particular is interesting for its solitude. Most starburst galaxies are caused by galactic collisions or interactions. NGC 1313, however, appears alone without any nearby galaxies to have caused such star formation, nor does the starburst appear to be caused by the central bar. Curiously, the galaxy also contains two ultra-luminous x-ray sources (ULX’s)- sources of hight energy x-rays- which may mark the positions of two small black holes.

NGC 1313

NGC 1313 is a barred spiral galaxy located about 15 million light years away towards the constellation Reticulum. It is about 50,000 light years across, and is also classified as a starburst galaxy- one with an unusually high rate of star formation. NGC 1313 is odd for a starburst galaxy, however.

Most “starbursts” are caused by the collision or interaction of two galaxies, as the gravity between them stimulates additional star formation. But NGC 1313, for all its star formation and odd shape, stands alone with no sign of an interacting galaxy. Another common explanation for star formation, relying on the central bar structure, also does not apply to NGC 1313, since most of the galaxy’s star formation is occurring in its arms, not the bar. For now, astronomers aren’t sure what caused the star formation in NGC 1313.