The NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope has delivered an unrivalled snapshot of the highly distorted barred spiral galaxy NGC 1614.
This Hubble image shows the barred spiral galaxy NGC 1614. The color image is made up of observations from Hubble’s Wide Field Camera 3 (WFC3) and Advanced Camera for Surveys (ACS) in the near-infrared and optical parts of the spectrum. Four filters were used to sample various wavelengths. The color results from assigning different hues to each monochromatic image associated with an individual filter. Image credit: NASA / ESA / Hubble / A. Adamo.
NGC 1614 is located approximately 211 million light-years away in the southern constellation of Eridanus.
Also known as LEDA 15538, Arp 186 and Mrk 617, the galaxy was discovered on December 29, 1885 by the American astronomer Lewis Swift.
“NGC 1614 is the result of a past galactic merger which created its peculiar appearance,” Hubble astronomers said.
“The cosmic collision also drove a turbulent flow of interstellar gas from the smaller of the two galaxies involved into the nucleus of the larger one, resulting in a burst of star formation which started in the core and slowly spread outwards through the galaxy.”
NGC 1614 has a bright optical center and two symmetrical inner spiral arms.
It also has a spectacular outer structure that consists principally of a large one-sided curved extension of one of these arms to the lower right, and a long, almost straight tail that emerges from the nucleus and crosses the extended arm to the upper right.
NGC 1614 has a nuclear region of quasar-like luminosity, but shows no direct evidence for an active nucleus.
It is heavily and unevenly reddened across its nucleus, while infrared imaging also shows a ridge of dust.
The linear tail to the upper right and extended arms to the lower right are likely the remains of an interacting companion galaxy and the tidal plumes caused by the ancient collision.
“Owing to its turbulent past and its current appearance, astronomers classify NGC 1614 as a peculiar galaxy, a starburst galaxy, and a luminous infrared galaxy,” the researchers said.
“Luminous infrared galaxies are among the most luminous objects in the local Universe — and NGC 1614 is, in fact, the second most luminous galaxy within 250 million light-years.”
