#ngc4449

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NGC 4449

NGC 4449 is an irregular dwarf galaxy located about 12.5 million light years away towards the constellation Canes Venatici, the Hunting Dogs. It is also a starburst galaxy, one with an unusually high rate of star formation. In NGC 4449, the gas fueling the star forming activity will only last a billion years or so at current rates.

While such “starbursts” usually occur in the centers of galaxies, the activity is widespread throughout NGC 4449. Such a “global” starburst is similar to primordial star forming galaxies, which grew by merging with smaller systems. NGC 4449 probably got its boost in star formation by interacting or merging with a neighboring galaxy.

Image from ESA, information from NASA.

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NGC 4449 by geckzilla on Flickr.

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NGC 4449

NGC 4449 is an irregular dwarf galaxy located about 12.5 million light years away towards the constellation Canes Venatici, the Hunting Dogs. It is about the size of the Large Magellanic Cloud, a satellite galaxy of the Milky Way, and is currently undergoing a burst of star formation.

Ngc 4449 is also the first dwarf galaxy with a noticable tidal star stream, seen in this image on the lower right. The inset in this image shows the stream in red giant stars. This stream is made from the remains of a smaller galaxy, disrupted by the gravitational forces and now in the process of merging with NGC 4449, probably causing the current starburst. Small galaxies often have large halos of dark matter, so by studying the system astronomers can learn about how the presence of dark matter affects galactic merging.

Image and information from NASA.

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NGC 4449

NGC 4449 is a dwarf starburst galaxy located about 12.4 million light years away towards the constellation Canes Venatici, where it is part of a group of galaxies that may have influenced its star formation. Starburst galaxies are so called because they form new stars much more rapidly than usual.

NGC 4449's furious star formation is likely driven by a collision with another nearby galaxy. Another, smaller dwarf galaxy, NGC 4449B, has been identified as the most likely culprit. A stream of material has been observed between the two, signs of a galactic merger. Additional observations of NGC 4449 has indicated that this may not be the first time the galaxy has swallowed another.

Image from HubbleSite, information from Space.com.