NGC 5713 is a peculiar, asymmetric galaxy in the constellation Virgo. Although classified as a spiral galaxy by most galaxy catalogs, NGC 5713 is very different from most normal spiral galaxies. While most spiral galaxies either have either two well-defined spiral arms or a filamentary spiral-like structure, this spiral galaxy has only one visible spiral arm in its disk.[2] This makes it a galaxy of the Magellanic type. Gravitational interactions with the nearby spiral galaxy NGC 5719[3] may be responsible for producing the disturbed, asymmetric structure including the single spiral arm.

NGC 5713
Observation data (J2000 epoch)
ConstellationVirgo
Right ascension14h 40m 11.5s[1]
Declination−00° 17′ 21″[1]
Redshift1899 ± 7 km/s[1]
Apparent magnitude (V)12.1[1]
Characteristics
TypeSAB(rs)bc pec[1]
Apparent size (V)2'.8 × 2'.5[1]
Notable featuressingle spiral arm[2]
Other designations
UGC 9451,[1] PGC 52412,[1] VIII Zw 447[1]

NGC 5713 is at the center of a small group of spiral galaxies that also includes NGC 5691, NGC 5705, and NGC 5719.[2] It is a member of the NGC 5746 Group of galaxies, itself one of the Virgo III Groups strung out to the east of the Virgo Supercluster of galaxies.[4]

Star formation

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NGC 5713 (right), interacting with NGC 5719 (left)

Compared to many other nearby spiral galaxies, NGC 5713 appears to be a site of relatively intense star formation activity.[5][6] The boost in star formation in NGC 5713 may be linked to the gravitational interactions with NGC 5719. The interactions are expected to disturb the orbits of gas clouds in NGC 5713, thus causing the clouds to collide with each other. The collisions cause the clouds to collapse and form new stars, hence leading to the increased star formation seen in NGC 5713.[5]

See also

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  • NGC 4618, an interacting galaxy with a similar morphology
  • NGC 4625, an interacting galaxy with a similar morphology

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i "NASA/IPAC Extragalactic Database". Results for NGC 5713. Retrieved 2006-11-15.
  2. ^ a b c A. Sandage; J. Bedke (1994). Carnegie Atlas of Galaxies. Washington, D.C.: Carnegie Institution of Washington. ISBN 978-0-87279-667-6.
  3. ^ G. de Vaucouleurs; A. de Vaucouleurs & H. G. Corwin (1976). Second Reference Catalog of Bright Galaxies. Austin: University of Texas Press. ISBN 978-0-292-75509-3.
  4. ^ "The Virgo III Groups". Atlas of the Universe. Retrieved 2010-11-27.
  5. ^ a b G. Rudnick; H.-W. Rix; R. C. Kennicutt, Jr. (2000). "Lopsided Galaxies, Weak Interactions, and Boosting the Star Formation Rate". Astrophysical Journal. 538 (2): 569–580. arXiv:astro-ph/0003109. Bibcode:2000ApJ...538..569R. doi:10.1086/309169. S2CID 17017821.
  6. ^ G. J. Bendo; R. D. Joseph (2004). "Nuclear Stellar Populations in the Infrared Space Observatory Atlas of Bright Spiral Galaxies". Astronomical Journal. 127 (6): 3338–3360. arXiv:astro-ph/0403133. Bibcode:2004AJ....127.3338B. doi:10.1086/420712. S2CID 14169689.
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