UGC 5183, CGCG 152-056,MCG +05-23-027,Mrk 404, B2 0939+32B,PGC 27777[1]
NGC 2964 is anintermediate spiral galaxy located in the constellationLeo. It is located at a distance of about 60 millionlight years from Earth, which, given its apparent dimensions, means that NGC 2964 is about 60,000 light years across. It was discovered byWilliam Herschel on December 7, 1785.[3]
There is evidence that the galaxy has a weakbar running across the minor axis of the galaxy. The galaxy has fourspiral arms, two emerging from ansae at each end of the bar and the others emerging near the centre of the bar, with the arms emerging from the ends of the bar being of higher surface brightness. All but the west arm have knotty appearance.[4] The outer parts of the galaxy present twisted stellar kinematics, but otherwise the rotation is quite regular.[5]
Spiral dust lanes have been observed running towards the centre, wherestar formation possibly takes place.[6] A circumnuclear ring observed in [OIII]/H-beta could be the site of active star formation.[5] Another indication of a nuclear star forming ring is the detection of double peakedcarbon monoxide emission lines.[7] The central region of the galaxy has a stellar population of young-intermediate age, probably created by constant starburst activity that lasted for about 5 billion years.[8] The total star formation rate of NGC 2964 is estimated to be about 4M☉ per year.[9]
The nucleus of NGC 2964 appears to featureHII region activity.[10] The spectrographic study of the nucleus revealed double peakedemission lines, which can be attributed to an ionisation cone created by anactive galactic nucleus.[5] In the centre of NGC 2964 is believed to lie asupermassive black hole whose upper mass limit is estimated to be between 1.4 and 24 millionM☉.[11]
NGC 2964 is the brightest galaxy in agalaxy group known as the NGC 2964 group. Other members of the group includeNGC 2968,NGC 2970,NGC 3003,NGC 3011,NGC 3021. Other nearby galaxies includeNGC 3118,NGC 3067,NGC 3032,NGC 3026, and their galaxy groups.[12] NGC 2964 forms a non-interacting pair with NGC 2968, which lies 5.8 arcminutes away.[8] A hydrogen bridge has been found to connect the two galaxies, while a tail extends towards NGC 2970.[13]
^Eskridge, Paul B.; Frogel, Jay A.; Pogge, Richard W.; Quillen, Alice C.; Berlind, Andreas A.; Davies, Roger L.; DePoy, D. L.; Gilbert, Karoline M.; Houdashelt, Mark L.; Kuchinski, Leslie E.; Ramirez, Solange V.; Sellgren, K.; Stutz, Amelia; Terndrup, Donald M.; Tiede, Glenn P. (November 2002). "Near-Infrared and Optical Morphology of Spiral Galaxies".The Astrophysical Journal Supplement Series.143 (1):73–111.arXiv:astro-ph/0206320.Bibcode:2002ApJS..143...73E.doi:10.1086/342340.S2CID15491635.
^Carollo, C. M.; Stiavelli, M.; de Zeeuw, P. T.; Mack, J. (December 1997). "Spiral Galaxies with WFPC2.I.Nuclear Morphology, Bulges, Star Clusters, and Surface Brightness Profiles".The Astronomical Journal.114: 2366.Bibcode:1997AJ....114.2366C.doi:10.1086/118654.
^Braine, J.; Combes, F.;Casoli, F.; Dupraz, C.; Gerin, M.; Klein, U.; Wielebinski, R.; Brouillet, N. (1 March 1993). "A CO(1-0) and CO(2-1) survey of nearby spiral galaxies. I - Data and observations".Astronomy and Astrophysics Supplement Series.97:887–936.Bibcode:1993A&AS...97..887B.ISSN0365-0138.
^Beifiori, A.; Sarzi, M.; Corsini, E. M.; Bontà, E. Dalla; Pizzella, A.; Coccato, L.; Bertola, F. (10 February 2009). "Upper Limits on the Masses of 105 Supermassive Black Holes from Hubble Space Telescope/Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph Archival Data".The Astrophysical Journal.692 (1):856–868.arXiv:0809.5103.Bibcode:2009ApJ...692..856B.doi:10.1088/0004-637X/692/1/856.S2CID54903233.
