NGC 3226 is a

dwarf elliptical galaxy Dwarf elliptical galaxies, or dEs, are elliptical galaxies that are smaller than ordinary elliptical galaxies. They are quite common in galaxy groups and clusters, and are usually companions to other galaxies. Examples "Dwarf elliptical" galaxie ...

that is interacting with the

spiral galaxy Spiral galaxies form a class of galaxy originally described by Edwin Hubble in his 1936 work ''The Realm of the Nebulae''NGC 3227 NGC 3227 is an intermediate spiral galaxy that is interacting with the dwarf elliptical galaxy NGC 3226. The two galaxies are one of several examples of a spiral with a dwarf elliptical companion that are listed in the '' Atlas of Peculiar Gal ...

. The two galaxies are one of several examples of a spiral with a dwarf elliptical companion that are listed in the '' Atlas of Peculiar Galaxies''. Both galaxies may be found in the

constellation A constellation is an area on the celestial sphere in which a group of visible stars forms Asterism (astronomy), a perceived pattern or outline, typically representing an animal, mythological subject, or inanimate object. The origins of the e ...

Leo. It is a member of the NGC 3227 Group of galaxies, which is a member of the

Leo II Groups The Leo II Groups, or Leo II Cloud, are a series of at least 110 galactic clusters and individual galaxies stretching approximately 30 Mly (9.2 Mpc) off the right edge of the Virgo Supercluster. It is located approximately 65 Mly (20 Mpc) to 95 M ...

, a series of galaxies and galaxy clusters strung out from the right edge of the Virgo Supercluster. One

supernova A supernova is a powerful and luminous explosion of a star. It has the plural form supernovae or supernovas, and is abbreviated SN or SNe. This transient astronomical event occurs during the last evolutionary stages of a massive star or when ...

has been observed in NGC 3226: SN 1976K (type unknown, mag. 17).Circular No 3029 Central Bureau for Astronomical Telegrams.
Retrieved 28 March 2023.

Nucleus

NGC 3226 contains a

low-ionization nuclear emission-line region A low-ionization nuclear emission-line region (LINER) is a type of galactic nucleus that is defined by its spectral line emission. The spectra typically include line emission from weakly ionized or neutral atoms, such as O, O+, N+, and S+. ...

(LINER), a type of region that is characterized by

spectral line A spectral line is a dark or bright line in an otherwise uniform and continuous spectrum, resulting from emission or absorption of light in a narrow frequency range, compared with the nearby frequencies. Spectral lines are often used to iden ...

emission from weakly

ion An ion () is an atom or molecule with a net electrical charge. The charge of an electron is considered to be negative by convention and this charge is equal and opposite to the charge of a proton, which is considered to be positive by conven ...

ized atoms. In general, the energy source for LINER emission has been a subject of debate among astronomers. Some astronomers have asserted that LINERs are powered by star formation regions, while other have asserted that LINERs are powered by active galactic nuclei (AGN) which contain supermassive black holes.

AGN

The nucleus of NGC 3226 appears to contain an AGN. The nucleus is a strong source of both

radio Radio is the technology of signaling and communicating using radio waves. Radio waves are electromagnetic waves of frequency between 30 hertz (Hz) and 300 gigahertz (GHz). They are generated by an electronic device called a transmit ...

and

X-ray An X-ray, or, much less commonly, X-radiation, is a penetrating form of high-energy electromagnetic radiation. Most X-rays have a wavelength ranging from 10 picometers to 10 nanometers, corresponding to frequencies in the range 30&nb ...

emission that appears to be

synchrotron emission Synchrotron radiation (also known as magnetobremsstrahlung radiation) is the electromagnetic radiation emitted when relativistic charged particles are subject to an acceleration perpendicular to their velocity (). It is produced artificially in ...

, which is generated when

electron The electron ( or ) is a subatomic particle with a negative one elementary electric charge. Electrons belong to the first generation of the lepton particle family, and are generally thought to be elementary particles because they have no kn ...

s moving at high speeds oscillate within

magnetic field A magnetic field is a vector field that describes the magnetic influence on moving electric charges, electric currents, and magnetic materials. A moving charge in a magnetic field experiences a force perpendicular to its own velocity and to ...

s. Such synchrotron emission is expected from the environment around a supermassive black hole. The

emission may also be variable, which is also expected in the environment of a supermassive black hole.

Interstellar medium

It is possible that NGC 3226 may be acquiring gas from NGC 3227 during the interaction process, which would enhance

star formation Star formation is the process by which dense regions within molecular clouds in The "medium" is present further soon.-->interstellar space

within NGC 3226. However, millimeter observations of NGC 3226 failed to detect any molecular gas within the galaxy. These results not only demonstrate that NGC 3226 contains little molecular gas but also demonstrate that the galaxy has acquired no gas from NGC 3227.

References

External links

* {{Ngc35 Elliptical galaxies Dwarf elliptical galaxies Peculiar galaxies LINER galaxies Leo (constellation) 3226 05617 30440 094 17840215