| IC 2431 | |
|---|---|
 Hubble Space Telescope andPAN-STARRS image of IC 2431 | |
| Observation data (J2000epoch) | |
| Constellation | Cancer |
| Right ascension | 09h 04m 35.35s |
| Declination | +14d 35m 38.7s |
| Redshift | 0.049700 |
| Heliocentric radial velocity | 14,579 km/s |
| Distance | 684Mly (209.71Mpc) |
| Apparent magnitude (V) | 14.3 |
| Characteristics | |
| Type | Group |
| Notable features | Interacting galaxies |
| Other designations | |
| PGC 25476,CGCG 090-063,UGC 4756,Mrk 1224,IRAS 09018+1447, SFRS 040,MCG +03-23-030,NVSS J090434+143538, VV 645, LSBC D634-04, AKARI J0904345+143541, VLSS J0904.5+1435, TXS 0901+147,LEDA 25476 | |
IC 2431 are a group ofinteracting galaxies in the constellation ofCancer.[1][2] They are located 684 millionlight-years away from theSolar System[3] and were discovered on February 24, 1896, byStephane Javelle.[4]
There are at least three galaxies involved in thegravitational interaction. They are IC 2431 NED01 (known as PGC 200245),[5] IC 2431 NED02 (known as NSA 135647)[6] and IC 2431 NED03 (known as PGC 200246).[7] Additionally, a fourthgalaxy (PGC 200247)[8] might also be involved in the interaction. As they draw closer to each other, the forces are causing them to tear each other apart.[9] This is common in the universe and all large galaxies, including theMilky Way own their size to violent mergers.[9]
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The galaxies are undergoing tumultuous mixture ofstar formation and tidal distortions which are caused by the interaction.[10] In the center, athick cloud of dust is seen obscuring, which light from a background galaxy is piercing its outer extremities.[10] Also, they display a thermally-dominatedX-ray emission which is much more in excess of expectations based on its own star formation rate.[11]
IC 2431 falls under the category ofMarkarian Galaxies as Mrk 1224,[3] in which its core shines bright inultraviolet rays. It is possible thatcarbon monoxide might be present in the regions of the interacting galaxies, which can be determined by the fraction ofinterstellar gas and total mass in form ofmolecules.[12] Not to mention, IC 2431 possibly contains anactive nucleus which produces ionized gas outflows.[13][14]
