NGC 3049

Lore & Background

NGC 3049 was discovered by French astronomer Édouard Stephan in 1882. It is a field galaxy, meaning it does not belong to a cluster or group and is gravitationally isolated. Its velocity relative to the cosmic microwave background is 1793 ± 24 km/s, corresponding to a Hubble distance of 26.4 ± 1.9 Mpc (~86.1 million ly). The galaxy has a luminosity class of I-II and contains regions of ionized hydrogen, indicating active star formation. Its core shines in the ultraviolet field, and it is listed in the Markarian catalog under the reference Mrk 710.

Reader's Guide

NGC 3049 is significant as a starburst galaxy, a type that undergoes intense episodes of star formation, as evidenced by its regions of ionized hydrogen and broad HI line. Its classification as a field galaxy—gravitationally isolated from clusters or groups—makes it a valuable object for studying isolated galaxy evolution and starburst processes without environmental influences. The galaxy's inclusion in the Markarian catalog (Mrk 710) highlights its ultraviolet-bright core, a characteristic often associated with active star formation or nuclear activity. The distance to NGC 3049 shows some variation: the Hubble distance is 26.4 ± 1.9 Mpc, while 11 non-redshift measurements yield an average of 23.136 ± 6.782 Mpc. The NASA/IPAC database uses the average of independent measurements to calculate galaxy diameters; if the Hubble distance were used, the diameter would be approximately 19.2 kpc (~62,600 ly). This discrepancy underscores the challenges in measuring extragalactic distances and the importance of multiple methods.

Did You Know?

• NGC 3049 is a barred spiral galaxy discovered by Édouard Stephan in 1882.
• It is a starburst galaxy with regions of ionized hydrogen and a broad HI line.
• The galaxy is a field galaxy, gravitationally isolated from any cluster or group.
• Its core shines in the ultraviolet field, earning it the Markarian designation Mrk 710.