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> Barred spiral galaxy NGC 1097 in Fornax
Barred spiral galaxy NGC 1097 in Fornax
author: R. Jay GaBany/Novapix
reference: a-gax10-97004
Image Size 300 DPI: 22 * 14 cm
Located at a distance of about 45 million light-years in the southern constellation Fornax, NGC 1097 is a relatively bright, barred spiral galaxy of type SBb, seen face-on. At magnitude 9.5, and thus just 25 times fainter than the faintest object that can be seen with the unaided eye, it appears in small telescopes as a bright, circular disc. NGC 1097 is an acive galaxy with an Active Galactic Nuclei (AGN), whose emission is thought to arise from matter (gas and stars) falling into oblivion in a central black hole. There is indeed much evidence that a supermassive black hole is located at the very centre of NGC 1097; it is at least ten times more massive than the central black hole in our own Milky Way. NGC 1097 also has a small galaxy companion; it is designated NGC 1097A and is located about 42,000 light-years away from the centre of NGC 1097. This peculiar elliptical galaxy is 25 times fainter than its big brother. There is evidence that NGC 1097 and NGC 1097A have been interacting in the recent past.
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