Themorphological classification of NGC 4194 is Imeger,[2] indicating an irregular form. This galaxy consists of a brighter central region spanning an angular size9″ across, with an accompanying system of loops and arcs. Additional material is thinly spread out to a radius of75″ from the central region.[9] There is atidal tail and regions undergoing high levels of star formation, making this astarburst galaxy. It is a source for strong infrared and radio emission.[10][11] These features indicate NGC 4194 is a late-stage galaxy merger.[12] A region of extreme star formation 500 ly (150 pc) across exists in the center of theEye of Medusa, the central gas-rich region.[13]
Within 1.2 kpc (3.9 kly) of the dynamic center of NGC 4194, star formation is occurring at a rate of8 M☉·yr−1. The star forming regions in this volume range from 5 to 9 million years in age, with the youngest occurring in areas of the highest star formation rate.[14] As of 2014, no galactic nucleus has been detected based on radio emissions, nor have the respective nuclei of the merger galaxies.[15] However,X-ray emission from ablack hole in the tidal tail was detected byChandra in 2009.[16]
^"Results for NGC 4194".NASA/IPAC Extragalactic Database. Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, under contract with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. January 12, 2007. Retrieved2024-03-24.
^Weistrop, D.; et al. (March 2004). "Looking Closely at Medusa: Star-forming Knots at the Center of NGC 4194".The Astronomical Journal.127 (3):1360–1370.Bibcode:2004AJ....127.1360W.doi:10.1086/382092.
^Hancock, M.; et al. (December 2003). "A Spectroscopic Study of the Star-Forming Properties of the Center of NGC 4194".The Astronomical Journal.131 (1): 1394.Bibcode:2003AAS...20311515H.doi:10.1086/497969.
^Weistrop, D.; et al. (April 2012). "Characteristics of Star-forming Regions in the Advanced Minor-merger, Luminous Infrared Galaxy NGC 4194".The Astronomical Journal.143 (4). id. 98.Bibcode:2012AJ....143...98W.doi:10.1088/0004-6256/143/4/98.
Kaaret, Philip; Alonso-Herrero, Almudena (August 2008). "X-Ray Sources in the Star-Forming Galaxies NGC 4194 and NGC 7541".The Astrophysical Journal.682 (2):1020–1028.arXiv:0805.0683.Bibcode:2008ApJ...682.1020K.doi:10.1086/589764.
