UGC 6697 is a large irregular[1] spiral galaxy with a bar[2] located in the Leo constellation.[3] It is located 378 million light-years from the Solar System and has an estimated diameter of 205,000 light-years.[4] UGC 6697 is considered a starburst galaxy which produces high rates of star formation.[4][5] The first known reference to this galaxy comes from volume II of the Catalogue of Galaxies and of Clusters of Galaxies compiled by Fritz Zwicky in 1968, where it was listed as CGCG 097-087, and its coordinates listed as 1141.2 + 2015 (epoch B1950).[6]
Possible Jellyfish Galaxy
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UGC 6697 has a particular morphology. It is considered an edge-on galaxy and such has a long tidal tail with blue color and low surface brightness which stretches out northwest.[7] This is in fact caused by dynamic pressure. It occurs when the galaxy plunges forward into the cluster, the pressure acts on the galaxy and penetrates through high speeds causing intracluster medium. In the process, the cooler gas is compressed and expelled from the galaxy's edge thus forming a trail.[8] The gas trail extends 100 kpc which measures 326,000 light-years in diameter.[9] In the long run, the dynamic pressure will eventually strip the gas from the galaxy, rending it an anemic galaxy.[8][10]
According to observations from Chandra X-ray Observatory, it shows that more massive new stars have formed in compressed gas regions of UGC 6697 due to the result of increased dynamic stripping. These, however will explode into supernovas over the next 10 million years which its heat produces x-rays and optical light.[8]
Companion galaxy
UGC 6697 has one companion galaxy: CGCG 097-087N (also known as 2MASX J11434983+1958343).[11] It is located 379 million light-years away[11] and also shows signs of distortion caused by dynamic pressure. Further studies show that the two galaxies might have interacted in the past.[9]
Supernova
On March 5, 1986, B. Leibundgut and B. Binggeli of European Southern Observatory, La Silla discovered a supernova in UGC 6697: SN 1986C (type II, mag. 18).[12][13]
Group membership
UGC 6697 is a member of the Leo Cluster which is made up of at least 70 galaxies.[14] The other members include NGC 3805, NGC 3837, the brightest cluster member NGC 3842, NGC 3860, NGC 3883, NGC 3884, NGC 3919, NGC 3929, NGC 3937, NGC 3940, NGC 3947 and NGC 3954. Other galaxies included in the Leo Cluster are radio galaxy NGC 3862, and IC 2955.[14]
References
- ^ "Principal Galaxy Catalog (PGC) Objects 36000 to 36499". cseligman.com. Retrieved 2024-04-27.
- ^ "HyperLeda -object description". atlas.obs-hp.fr. Retrieved 2024-04-27.
- ^ "UGC 6697 Galaxy Facts & Distance". Universe Guide. July 3, 2022. Retrieved 2024-04-27.
- ^ a b "Your NED Search Results". ned.ipac.caltech.edu. Retrieved 2024-04-27.
- ^ Sun, M.; Vikhlinin, A. (2005-03-10). "Revealing the interaction between the X-ray gas of starburst galaxy UGC 6697 and the hot intracluster medium of A1367". The Astrophysical Journal. 621 (2): 718–724. arXiv:astro-ph/0411651. Bibcode:2005ApJ...621..718S. doi:10.1086/427728. ISSN 0004-637X.
- ^ Zwicky, Fritz; Herzog, E.; Wild, P. (1963). Catalogue of galaxies and of clusters of galaxies, Vol. 2 (PDF). Vol. II. California Institute of Technology. pp. 52–57. Bibcode:1963cgcg.book.....Z. Archived from the original on August 19, 2023.
- ^ Amram, P.; Gavazzi, G.; Marcelin, M.; Boselli, A.; Vílchez, J. M.; Iglesias-Paramo, J.; Tarenghi, M. (2002), Sauvage, Marc; Stazińska, Grażyna; Schaerer, Daniel (eds.), "The Velocity Field of UGC 6697 Revisited", The Evolution of Galaxies: II — Basic Building Blocks, Dordrecht: Springer Netherlands, pp. 401–404, doi:10.1007/978-94-017-3311-3_90, ISBN 978-94-017-3311-3, retrieved 2024-04-27
- ^ a b c "Chandra :: Photo Album :: UGC 6697 in Abell 1367 :: 25 Jan 05". chandra.harvard.edu. Retrieved 2024-04-27.
- ^ a b Consolandi, G.; Gavazzi, G.; Fossati, M.; Fumagalli, M.; Boselli, A.; Yagi, M.; Yoshida, M. (2017-10-01). "MUSE sneaks a peek at extreme ram-pressure events - III. Tomography of UGC 6697, a massive galaxy falling into Abell 1367". Astronomy & Astrophysics. 606: A83. arXiv:1707.06241. Bibcode:2017A&A...606A..83C. doi:10.1051/0004-6361/201731218. ISSN 0004-6361.
- ^ Johnson-Groh, Mara (2017-10-09). "New research helps solve galactic murders". Astronomy Magazine. Retrieved 2024-04-27.
- ^ a b "Your NED Search Results". ned.ipac.caltech.edu. Retrieved 2024-04-27.
- ^ "SN 1986C | Transient Name Server". www.wis-tns.org. Retrieved 2024-04-27.
- ^ Leibundgut, B.; Binggeli, B.; Sargent, W.; Steidel, J. (1986-03-01). "Supernova 1986C in UGC 6697". International Astronomical Union Circular (4191): 3. Bibcode:1986IAUC.4191....3L. ISSN 0081-0304.
- ^ a b Plait, Phil (2013-07-03). "The Lion's Share of Galaxies". Slate. ISSN 1091-2339. Retrieved 2024-04-27.
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