NGC 2903

{{Infobox Galaxy

| name = NGC 2903

| image = NGC 2903 GALEX.jpg

| image_size = 300px

| caption = An ultraviolet image of NGC 2903 taken with GALEX.

| credit =

| epoch = J2000

| constellation name = Leo

| ra = {{RA|09|32|10.111}}

| dec = {{DEC|+21|30|02.99}}

| dist_ly = {{convert|9.33|Mpc|Mly|order=flip|abbr=on|lk=on}}

| z = {{val|556|1|u=km/s}}

| appmag_v = 9.0

| group_cluster = Virgo Supercluster

| type = SBbc or SAB(rs)bc

| size_v = {{nowrap|11.48{{prime}} × 5.25{{prime}}}}

| size = 100,000 ly (diameter)

| names = UGC 5079, IRAS 09293+2143, PGC 27077

}}

NGC 2903 is an isolated barred spiral galaxy in the equatorial constellation of Leo, positioned about 1.5° due south of Lambda Leonis. It was discovered by German-born astronomer William Herschel, who cataloged it on November 16, 1784. He mistook it as a double nebula, as did subsequent observers, and it wasn't until the nineteenth century that the Third Earl of Rosse resolved into a spiral form. J. L. E. Dreyer assigned it the identifiers 2903 and 2905 in his New General Catalogue; NGC 2905 now designates a luminous knot in the northeastern spiral arm.

This field galaxy is located about 30 million light-years away from the Milky Way, and is a member of the Virgo Supercluster. The morphological classification of this galaxy is SBbc, indicating a barred spiral (SB) with moderate to tightly-wound spiral arms (bc). De Vaucouleurs and associates assigned it the class SAB(rs)bc, suggesting a weaker bar structure (SAB) with a partial ring (rs). The bar structure appears stronger in the near infrared band. The galaxy as a whole is inclined by an angle of 60° to the line of sight from the Earth.

72% of the stellar mass is located in the outer disk of the galaxy, and 20% is found in the bar. The bulge adds 5% of the stellar mass, and its star population is generally older. However, the central {{val|650|u=pc||p=~}} radius volume of the core is a strong starburst region. The star formation rate here is {{val|0.7|ul=solar mass}} y⁻¹ and it is being fed by gas inflow along the bar. There is no evidence of an active nucleus.

The irregular dwarf galaxy KKH 51 appears to be a companion, as they have an angular separation of {{val|25|ul=arcminute}} and nearly the same radial velocity.

References

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{{cite web

| title=NASA/IPAC Extragalactic Database

| work=Results for NGC 2903

| url=http://nedwww.ipac.caltech.edu/cgi-bin/nph-objsearch?objname=NGC+2903&img_stamp=yes&extend=no

| accessdate=2006-11-25 }}

{{Cite journal

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| bibcode= 1979A&A....74..235M }}

{{Cite web