NGC 1313”Who says Galaxies can’t have babies!”

This Galaxy looks like a baby in the fetal position.

Why is this galaxy so discombobulated? Usually, galaxies this Topsy-turvy result from a recent collision with a neighboring galaxy. Spiral galaxy NGC 1313, however, appears to be alone. Brightly lit with massive new blue stars, star formation appears so rampant in NGC 1313 that it has been labeled a starburst galaxy.

Like grains of sand on a cosmic beach, individual stars of barred spiral galaxy NGC 1313 are easily resolved.

Strange features of NGC 1313 include that its spiral arms are lopsided, and its rotational axis is not at the center of the nuclear bar. Pictured below, NGC 1313 spans about 50,000 light years and lies only about 15 million light years away toward the constellation of the Reticle (Reticulum).

Image Processing and Calibration: Mark Hanson

24" Planewave CDK f6.5 and L600 Mount, Camera SBIG 16803 Location: SWOS, El Sauce Chile

Data Collection: Hanson, Mazlin, Parker, Forman 2023

Enjoy, Mark

Image Below from SSRO archives

Telescope:16" RCOS f11.2 Planewave HD Mount Camera: U9 Location: SSRO, Cito Chile