NGC 1350

Lore & Background

NGC 1350 was discovered by Scottish astronomer James Dunlop on 24 November 1826. It is classified as an Sa(r) galaxy, meaning its spiral arms are wound tightly enough to form a prominent central ring. A faint outer ring, called a pseudo-ring, is sometimes designated with the prefix "R'1." The galaxy measures roughly 130,000 light years across, slightly larger than the Milky Way.

NGC 1350 lies on the outskirts of the Fornax Cluster of galaxies, but its membership in the cluster is uncertain due to distance. It is a member of the NGC 1316 group (also known as LGG 94), which includes at least 20 galaxies such as IC 335, NGC 1310, NGC 1316, NGC 1317, NGC 1326A, NGC 1341, NGC 1365, NGC 1380, NGC 1381, NGC 1382, NGC 1404, and NGC 1427A.

One supernova has been observed in NGC 1350: SN 1959A (type unknown, magnitude 16), discovered by Howard S. Gates on 6 January 1959. An almost-true color composite image of the galaxy was made with the VLT's 8.2 meter Kueyen telescope on 26 January 2000 at the European Southern Observatory site at Cerro Paranal, Chile. The image covers 8.0 x 5.0 arcminutes, with north to the left and east down. The outer region's blue tint indicates star formation, and a number of background galaxies are visible through the tenuous outer arms.

Reader's Guide

NGC 1350's significance lies in its distinctive structure: a tightly wound inner ring and a faint outer pseudo-ring that together create an eye-like appearance. This morphology makes it a valuable example of an Sa(r) galaxy, illustrating how spiral arms can form rings. Its location on the outskirts of the Fornax Cluster raises questions about its membership, highlighting the challenges of determining galaxy group affiliations at distances of 87 million light years. The galaxy's membership in the NGC 1316 group (LGG 94) places it within a well-studied collection of at least 20 galaxies, providing context for understanding galaxy interactions and evolution in a group environment. The observation of SN 1959A, though of unknown type, adds to the historical record of supernovae in this galaxy. The high-quality VLT image from 2000, with its multi-wavelength exposures, has allowed astronomers to study the galaxy's star-forming regions (indicated by blue tints in the outer arms) and the background galaxies visible through its tenuous outer structure. NGC 1350 thus serves as both an aesthetic object and a scientific case study in ringed spiral galaxies and group dynamics.

Did You Know?

• NGC 1350 is slightly larger than the Milky Way, measuring about 130,000 light years across.
• The galaxy's outer ring is called a pseudo-ring and is sometimes designated 'R'1.'
• Only one supernova, SN 1959A, has been observed in NGC 1350, discovered by Howard S. Gates.