It is one of the closest and brightest barred spiral galaxies in the sky, and is visible with
binoculars.[9] It has an
isophotal diameter at about 36.24
kiloparsecs (118,000
light-years). Its nickname of the Southern[a] Pinwheel derives from its resemblance to the
Pinwheel Galaxy (M101).
Characteristics
M83 is a massive,
grand design spiral galaxy.[10] Its
morphological classification in the
De Vaucouleurs system is SAB(s)c,[2] where the 'SAB' denotes a weak-barred spiral, '(s)' indicates a pure spiral structure with no ring, and 'c' means the spiral arms are loosely wound.[11] The peculiar dwarf galaxy
NGC 5253 lies near M83,[12] and the two likely interacted within the last billion years resulting in
starburst activity in their central regions.[10]
The
star formation rate in M83 is higher along the leading edge of the spiral arms, as predicted by
density wave theory.[13]NASA's
Galaxy Evolution Explorer project on 16 April 2008 reported finding large numbers of new stars in the outer reaches of the galaxy—20
kpc from the center. It had hitherto been thought that these areas lacked the materials necessary for
star formation.[14][15]
Supernovae
Six
supernovae have been observed in M83: SN 1923A (mag. 14),[16] SN 1945B (mag. 14.2),[17] SN 1950B (mag. 14.5),[18] SN 1957D (mag. 15),[19][20] SN 1968L (mag. 11.9),[21] and SN 1983N (
type Ia, mag. 11.9).[22]
Environment
M83 is at the center of one of two subgroups within the
Centaurus A/M83 Group, a nearby
galaxy group.[23]Centaurus A is at the center of the other subgroup. These are sometimes identified as one group,[24][25] and sometimes as two.[26] However, the galaxies around Centaurus A and the galaxies around M83 are physically close to each other, and both subgroups appear not to be moving relative to each other.[27]
^
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.
^
abcdde Vaucouleurs, G.; et al. (1991). "Third reference catalogue of bright galaxies". 9. New York:
Springer-Verlag. {{
cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (
help)
^R. B. Tully (1988). Nearby Galaxies Catalog. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
ISBN978-0-521-35299-4.
^Fouque, P.; Gourgoulhon, E.; Chamaraux, P.; Paturel, G. (1992). "Groups of galaxies within 80 Mpc. II – The catalogue of groups and group members". Astronomy and Astrophysics Supplement. 93: 211–233.
Bibcode:
1992A&AS...93..211F.
^Garcia, A. (1993). "General study of group membership. II – Determination of nearby groups". Astronomy and Astrophysics Supplement. 100: 47–90.
Bibcode:
1993A&AS..100...47G.
^Its declination means every day it passes the zenith of the sky at the matching parallel of the earth, which is that of northern Argentina. It can be viewed more than an ideal 15° above the horizon for a further 75° to the north, placing such a northern limit of good observation at the
45th parallel north
External links
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