The
morphological classification of NGC 4194 is Imeger,[2] indicating an irregular form. This galaxy consists of a brighter central region spanning an angular size 9″ across, with an accompanying system of loops and arcs. Additional material is thinly spread out to a radius of 75″ from the central region.[9] There is a
tidal tail and regions undergoing high levels of star formation, making this a
starburst 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 the Eye 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 of 8
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 a
black hole in the tidal tail was detected by
Chandra 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. Retrieved 2024-03-24.
^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.
^Joseph, R. D.; Wright, G. S. (May 1985). "Recent star formation in interacting galaxies - II. Super starbursts in merging galaxies". Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society. 214 (2): 87–95.
Bibcode:
1985MNRAS.214...87J.
doi:
10.1093/mnras/214.2.87.
^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.
Aalto, S.; et al. (November 2010). "13CO 1-0 imaging of the Medusa merger, NGC 4194. Large scale variations in molecular cloud properties". Astronomy and Astrophysics. 522. id.A59.
Bibcode:
2010A&A...522A..59A.
doi:
10.1051/0004-6361/200913511.
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.