by Ann » Sun May 08, 2022 11:05 am
Nuclear rings like the one in NGC 1512 are not common, but they are certainly not unheard of, either.
But first, let me show you my favorite image of NGC 1512 and its satellite galaxy NGC 1510 - and let's not forget all the ultraviolet-glowing tendrils of NGC 1512! According to the caption, these tendrils may be the remnants of another satellite galaxy, or just the remnants of a galaxy that blundered too close to NGC 1512. Yes, maybe so, but if that is the case, then these tendrils are certainly still forming hot new stars!
Note the broad-looking blue outer ring of NGC 1512 in the ultraviolet GALEX image, signalling the presence of stars of spectral classes A, B and O. (I refuse to call it an inner ring.) The nuclear ring is lost in the overall glare of the central core of the galaxy.
Anyway, rings. Let's have a look at some other galactic rings (and bars)! Let's start with NGC 1097, because this galaxy is somewhat similar to NGC 1512. Like NGC 1512, it is interacting with a smaller companion galaxy, and like NGC 1512, it has a nuclear ring and and outer ring, as well as some blue outer tendrils:
This is the nuclear ring of NGC 1097. It is just so much brighter than the bar and the bulge of NGC 1097!
Got to show you two pictures of M77, one "normal" and one "enhanced". M77 is a barred spiral, but the bar is not easy to spot, and if there is a nuclear ring, it is not obvious. But I love the "enhanced" image!
![Very Happy :D](./images/smilies/icon_biggrin.gif)
Note the outer ring, I mean, the
really outer ring!
"Enhanced" portrait of M77. Note the outer ring. ESO/Stuart Rankin.
Let's have a look at gorgeous barred spiral NGC 1398, too:
Enhanced portrait of NGC 1398. Image: ESO/Stuart Rankin.
Gorgeous spiral NGC 1398 has a ring encircling its bar, and then its "first set of spiral arms" seems to form yet another ring. You've got to admit that Stuart Rankin's enhanced version of this galaxy makes it even more gorgeous, and even more full of rings, than it already is!
Ann
Nuclear rings like the one in NGC 1512 are not common, but they are certainly not unheard of, either.
But first, let me show you my favorite image of NGC 1512 and its satellite galaxy NGC 1510 - and let's not forget all the ultraviolet-glowing tendrils of NGC 1512! According to the caption, these tendrils may be the remnants of another satellite galaxy, or just the remnants of a galaxy that blundered too close to NGC 1512. Yes, maybe so, but if that is the case, then these tendrils are certainly still forming hot new stars! :D
[float=left][img3="Ultraviolet image of NGC 1512 and smaller satellite galaxy NGC 1510, as well as the wide-ranging ultraviolet tendrils of NGC 1512. Photo: NASA/JPL-Caltech."]https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/14/NGC_1510_and_NGC_1512_in_UV_Light.jpg/600px-NGC_1510_and_NGC_1512_in_UV_Light.jpg[/img3][/float]
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Note the broad-looking blue outer ring of NGC 1512 in the ultraviolet GALEX image, signalling the presence of stars of spectral classes A, B and O. (I refuse to call it an inner ring.) The nuclear ring is lost in the overall glare of the central core of the galaxy.
Anyway, rings. Let's have a look at some other galactic rings (and bars)! Let's start with NGC 1097, because this galaxy is somewhat similar to NGC 1512. Like NGC 1512, it is interacting with a smaller companion galaxy, and like NGC 1512, it has a nuclear ring and and outer ring, as well as some blue outer tendrils:
[float=left][img3="NGC 1097, with an nuclear ring, a bar and an outer ring, interacting with satellite galaxy 1097A. Image: ESO."]https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/59/NGC1097_-_ESO_-_eso0438d.jpg/800px-NGC1097_-_ESO_-_eso0438d.jpg[/img3][/float][float=right][img3="NGC 1097 and its satellite galaxy, along with ultraviolet tendrils. NASA/JPL-Caltech."]https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/c3/NGC_1097_and_1097A.jpg?20110630164724[/img3][/float]
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This is the nuclear ring of NGC 1097. It is just so much brighter than the bar and the bulge of NGC 1097!
[float=left][img3="The nuclear ring of NGC 1097. Photo: ESO/TIMER survey."]https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/06/NGC_1097_with_MUSE.tif/lossy-page1-628px-NGC_1097_with_MUSE.tif.jpg[/img3][/float][float=right][img3="This Hubble image really brings home how much brighter the nuclear ring is than the bar. Image: ESA/Hubble and NASA."]https://www.nasa.gov/images/content/716517main1_ngc1097-673.JPG[/img3][/float]
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Got to show you two pictures of M77, one "normal" and one "enhanced". M77 is a barred spiral, but the bar is not easy to spot, and if there is a nuclear ring, it is not obvious. But I love the "enhanced" image! :D Note the outer ring, I mean, the [i]really[/i] outer ring!
[float=left][img3="M77. NASA, ESA & A. van der Hoeven."]https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d9/Messier_77_spiral_galaxy_by_HST.jpg/1280px-Messier_77_spiral_galaxy_by_HST.jpg[/img3][/float][float=right][attachment=1]Enhanced portrait of M77 ESO Stuart Rankin.png[/attachment][c][size=85][color=#0040FF]"Enhanced" portrait of M77. Note the outer ring. ESO/Stuart Rankin.[/color][/size][/c][/float]
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Let's have a look at gorgeous barred spiral NGC 1398, too:
[float=left][img3="Barred spiral NGC 1398. Note the ring encircling the bar. Image: ESO."]https://cdn.eso.org/images/screen/potw1801a.jpg[/img3][/float][float=right][attachment=0]Enhanced portrait of NGC 1398 ESO Stuart Rankin.png[/attachment][c][size=85][color=#0040FF]Enhanced portrait of NGC 1398. Image: ESO/Stuart Rankin.[/color][/size][/c][/float]
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Gorgeous spiral NGC 1398 has a ring encircling its bar, and then its "first set of spiral arms" seems to form yet another ring. You've got to admit that Stuart Rankin's enhanced version of this galaxy makes it even more gorgeous, and even more full of rings, than it already is!
Ann