NGC 1365
| NGC 1365 | |
|---|---|
| |
| Observational Data | |
| Designation | NGC 1365 |
| Right ascension | 03h 33m 36.4s |
| Declination | -36° 08′ 25″ |
| Constellation | Fornax |
| Type of object | Spiral galaxy |
| Dimensions | 11.2x6.2'[1] |
| Magnitude | Apparent Mag: +10.3[1] Absolute Mag: -21.6[2] |
| Redshift | 0.005476[3] |
| Astrometry | |
| Distance from Earth | 56.2 million ly[1][4] |
| Radial velocity | 1,636±1 km/s[1][3] |
The NGC 1365 also referred to as the Great Barred Spiral Galaxy or PGC 13179, is a barred spiral galaxy situated in the constellation of Fornax.[1] A giant Seyfert-type galaxy, it is the largest spiral galaxy in Fornax with a diameter twice that of the Milky Way, some 200,000 light years.[1] It is perhaps the best example of a barred spiral galaxy in the night sky.
Environment and Structure
NGC 1365 possesses a large bar-like core with two well defined spiral arms, making the galaxy look like the letter "z".[1] The galaxy's core rotates at around 2,000 km/s so that it would have a period of 350 million years.[5] Recently in 2013, scientists measured the rotation speed of a massive object at the centre of the galaxy, thought to be a supermassive black hole.[1] If so, the surface of the black hole would be moving at 84% the speed of light. Four supernovae have occurred in the NGC 1365 galaxy.
