NGC 1512
Barred spiral galaxy merging with dwarf companion NGC 1510.
NGC 1512 is a barred spiral galaxy about 38 million light-years away in the constellation Horologium. Scottish astronomer James Dunlop first spotted it on 29 October 1826. The galaxy has a double ring structure: one ring encircles the nucleus, and another lies farther out in the main disk. Its extended ultraviolet disc contains at least 200 clusters where stars have recently formed. NGC 1512 belongs to the Dorado Group.
Gravitational tidal forces from NGC 1512 are affecting the nearby dwarf lenticular galaxy NGC 1510. The two galaxies are only about 5 arcminutes (13.8 kiloparsecs) apart and have been merging slowly for 400 million years. Eventually, NGC 1512 will absorb its smaller companion. This interaction has sparked star formation in the galaxy’s outer disk and increased tidal distortion in its spiral arms. The interaction appears strongest in the northwestern region, where the H I arm broadens and UV-rich star clusters spread out.
Quick Facts
- Epoch
- J2000
- Ra
- 04 · 03 · 54.1662
- Dec
- -43 · 20 · 55.658
- Dist Ly
- 11.6 Mpc 0.73
- Z
- 0.002995 · 0.0000100ned
- Appmag V
- 11.1
- Constellation Name
- Horologium
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
NGC 1512 was discovered by Scottish astronomer James Dunlop on 29 October 1826. The galaxy exhibits a double ring structure: a nuclear ring around the galactic nucleus and an inner ring further out in the main disk. It hosts an extended ultraviolet disc with at least 200 clusters showing recent star formation activity. NGC 1512 is a member of the Dorado Group.
The galaxy is gravitationally interacting with the nearby dwarf lenticular galaxy NGC 1510, separated by only about 5 arcminutes (13.8 kiloparsecs). The two galaxies are in the process of a lengthy merger that has been ongoing for 400 million years, at the end of which NGC 1512 will have cannibalised its smaller companion. This interaction has triggered star formation activity in the outskirts of the disc and enhanced tidal distortion in the arms of NGC 1512. The interaction appears to occur in the north-western areas of the system, as indicated by the broadening of the H I arm and the spread of UV-rich star clusters in that region.
Reader's Guide
NGC 1512's significance lies in its role as a clear example of a galaxy undergoing a prolonged merger with a smaller companion, a process that has been unfolding over 400 million years. The gravitational tidal forces from NGC 1512 are actively influencing NGC 1510, and the eventual cannibalisation of the dwarf galaxy will alter NGC 1512's structure. The interaction has triggered star formation in the outer disc and enhanced tidal distortions in the galaxy's arms, particularly in the north-western region where the H I arm broadens and UV-rich star clusters are spread. The galaxy's double ring structure and its extended ultraviolet disc, containing at least 200 young star clusters, further highlight its dynamic nature. As a member of the Dorado Group, NGC 1512 contributes to the understanding of galaxy interactions and star formation within a group environment. The ongoing merger provides a nearby laboratory for studying the effects of tidal forces on galactic morphology and the triggering of new stellar generations.
Did You Know?
- The galaxy displays a double ring structure: a nuclear ring and an inner ring in the main disk.
- NGC 1512 is in the process of a lengthy merger with the dwarf lenticular galaxy NGC 1510, which has been ongoing for 400 million years.
More in Galaxy Clusters and Groups, Part 4 1-24
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