This is aLINER 2 galaxy that displays an extended emission ofX-rays in the region of the nucleus.[9] Ahard X-ray source at the center most likely indicates anactive galactic nucleus.[10] The stellar population in the nucleus, and a ring at an angular radius of 6″, shows an age of only one billion years and is generally younger than the surrounding stellar population. This suggests that a burst of star formation took place in the nucleus roughly one billion years ago.[5]
NGC 3169 is located in close physical proximity to NGC 3166, and the two have an estimated separation of around 160 kly (50 kpc). Their interaction is creating a gravitational distortion that has left the disk of NGC 3166 warped.[11] Combined withNGC 3156, the three galaxies form a small group within the largerLeo 1 group. The three are embedded within an extended ring of neutral hydrogen that is centered on NGC 3169.[5]
SN 1984E (Type II-L, mag. 14.5) was codiscovered by Nataliya Metlova on 26 March 1984, and byRobert Evans on 29 March 1984.[12][13] The spectrum of this event at maximum light showed prominentBalmer lines that indicated the explosion occurred inside a dense shell of hydrogen surrounding the star. This shell was likely created by a strongstellar wind from the progenitor star.[14]
^abSkrutskie, Michael F.; Cutri, Roc M.; Stiening, Rae; Weinberg, Martin D.; Schneider, Stephen E.; Carpenter, John M.; Beichman, Charles A.; Capps, Richard W.; Chester, Thomas; Elias, Jonathan H.; Huchra, John P.; Liebert, James W.; Lonsdale, Carol J.; Monet, David G.; Price, Stephan; Seitzer, Patrick; Jarrett, Thomas H.; Kirkpatrick, J. Davy; Gizis, John E.; Howard, Elizabeth V.; Evans, Tracey E.; Fowler, John W.; Fullmer, Linda; Hurt, Robert L.; Light, Robert M.; Kopan, Eugene L.; Marsh, Kenneth A.; McCallon, Howard L.; Tam, Robert; Van Dyk, Schuyler D.; Wheelock, Sherry L. (1 February 2006)."The Two Micron All Sky Survey (2MASS)".The Astronomical Journal.131 (2):1163–1183.Bibcode:2006AJ....131.1163S.doi:10.1086/498708.ISSN0004-6256.S2CID18913331.
^De Vaucouleurs, G.; De Vaucouleurs, A.; Corwin, H. G. Jr.; Buta, R. J.; Paturel, G.; Fouque, P. (1991),Third Reference Catalogue of Bright Galaxies, 3.9.
^Haynes, M. P. (August 1981), "Neutral hydrogen streams in groups of galaxies. I - Observations",Astronomical Journal,86:1126–1154,Bibcode:1981AJ.....86.1126H,doi:10.1086/112993.
^Waagen, E.; Evans, R.; Cragg, T.; Aksenov, E. P.; Terebizh, Yu. V.; Metlova, N.; Kozai, Y.; Okazaki, K. (1984). "Supernova in NGC 3169".International Astronomical Union Circular (3931): 1.Bibcode:1984IAUC.3931....1W.
^"SN1984E".Transient Name Server.IAU. Retrieved5 December 2024.
^Henry, Richard B. C.; Branch, David (February 1987), "The spectrum of the type II-L supernova 1984E in NGC 3169 Further evidence for a superwind?",Publications of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific,99:112–115,Bibcode:1987PASP...99..112H,doi:10.1086/131962.
^Nakano, S.; Arbour, R.; Swift, B.; Li, W.; Kushida, Y.; Kushida, R. (2003). "Supernovae 2003cg, 2003ch, and 2003ci".International Astronomical Union Circular (8097): 1.Bibcode:2003IAUC.8097....1N.
