NGC 5064
| NGC 5064 | |
|---|---|
| File:NGC 5064 DSS.jpg Image of NGC 5064 created using the Aladin Sky Atlas software | |
| Observation data (J2000 epoch) | |
| Constellation | Centaurus |
| Right ascension | 13h 20m 31s |
| Declination | -48° 02’ 33” |
| Distance | 148 million ly |
| Absolute magnitude (V) | 11.61 |
| Absolute magnitude (B) | 12.81 |
| magnitude (J) | 9.09 |
| magnitude (H) | 8.38 |
| magnitude (K) | 8.01 |
| Characteristics | |
| Type | Spiral |
| Notable features | Large retrograde orbiting clouds of gas |
| Other designations | |
| GC 3480, h 348 | |
NGC 5064 is a spiral galaxy located 45.5 mpc from Earth in the constellation of Centaurus. It is situated south of the celestial equator making it visible primarily in the southern hemisphere.[1] The most notable features of NGC 5064 are its giant molecular clouds (GMCs) which exhibit a retrograde orbit around the galaxy. They gained their retrograde orbit through cloud-cloud collisions.[2]
Molecular clouds
[edit | edit source]The molecular clouds that are found within NGC 5064 are similar to those found in the Milky Way galaxy and other local group galaxies in terms of size (17-127 parsecs) mass (2.5x10^5- 3.2x10^7 solar masses) and velocity 1.2-17.9 km per second). Theses molecular clouds are giant compared to the galaxy taking up a significant fraction of its mass. What makes them more unusual is their retrograde orbit. They have strong gravitational force making them strongly bound which is supported by magnetic fields.[2]
References
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