NGC 2217 is a intergalactic celestial object of about 100 thousand light-years across that lies roughly 65 million light years from Earth in the constellation of Canis Major. It is part of the NGC 2217 Group of galaxies. It is classified as a barred spiral galaxy.
| NGC 2217 | |
|---|---|
 Credit:ESO | |
| Observation data (J2000 epoch) | |
| Constellation | Canis Major |
| Right ascension | 06h 21m 40.35s[1] |
| Declination | −27° 13′ 56.90″[1] |
| Redshift | 0.005400[2] |
| Heliocentric radial velocity | 1619 km/s[2] |
| Distance | 73 Mly 22.4 Mpc[2] |
| Apparent magnitude (V) | 11.71[2] |
| Characteristics | |
| Type | (R)SB0+(rs)[2] |
| Apparent size (V) | 4.44 ′ × 4.84 ′[1] |
| Other designations | |
| MCG -05-15-010, PGC 18883[2] | |
A notable feature is the swirling shape of this galaxy. In its very concentrated central region we can see a distinctive, very luminous bar of stars within an oval ring. Further out, a set of tightly wound spiral arms almost form a circular ring around the galaxy. The Galaxy is not very known as of now.
Central bars play an important role in the development of a galaxy. They can, for example, funnel gas towards the center of the galaxy, helping to feed a central black hole, or to form new stars.[1]
One supernova, SN 2017fzw (type Ia, mag. 17.1), was discovered in NGC 2217 on 9 August, 2017.[3]
References
External links
Media related to NGC 2217 at Wikimedia Commons
