| NGC 5033 | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Observation data (J2000epoch) | |
| Constellation | Canes Venatici[1] |
| Right ascension | 13h 13m 27.5s[2] |
| Declination | +36° 35′ 38″[2] |
| Redshift | 875 ± 1 km/s[2] |
| Apparent magnitude (V) | 10.8[2] |
| Characteristics | |
| Type | SA(s)c[2] |
| Size | ~180,000ly (55.09kpc) (estimated)[2] |
| Apparent size (V) | 10.7′ × 5.0′[2] |
| Other designations | |
| UGC 8307,[2]PGC 45948[2] | |
NGC 5033 is an inclinedspiral galaxy located in the constellationCanes Venatici. Distance estimates vary from between 38 and 60 millionlight years from theMilky Way. The galaxy has a very bright nucleus and a relatively faint disk. Significant warping is visible in the southern half of the disk. The galaxy's relatively large angular size and relatively high surface brightness make it an object that can be viewed and imaged by amateur astronomers. The galaxy's location relatively nearEarth and itsactive galactic nucleus make it a commonly studied object for professional astronomers.
Threesupernovae have been observed in NGC 5033:
NGC 5033 contains aSeyfert nucleus, a type ofactive galactic nucleus.[9] Like many other active galactic nuclei, this galaxy's nucleus is thought to contain asupermassive black hole. The bright emission seen in visible light (as well as other wavebands) is partially produced by the hot gas in the environment around this black hole.
Integral field spectroscopic observations of the center of NGC 5033 indicate that the Seyfert nucleus is not located at the kinematic center of the galaxy (the point around which the stars in the galaxies rotate).[10] This has been interpreted as evidence that this galaxy has undergone a merger. The displacement of the Seyfert nucleus from the kinematic center may destabilize the rotation of gas in the center of the galaxy, which could cause gas to fall into the Seyfert nucleus. The gas would be compressed by the enormous gravitational forces in the center of the Seyfert nucleus and become hot, thus making the nucleus appear bright or "active".
NGC 5033 and the nearby spiral galaxyNGC 5005 comprise a physical galaxy pair.[11] The two galaxies weakly influence each other gravitationally, but they are not yet close enough to each other to be distorted by the tidal forces of the gravitational interaction. The fainterirregular galaxyIC 4182 is also a member of this group.
Media related toNGC 5033 at Wikimedia Commons
