Hubble Space Telescope Image
of the Nucleus: v |
Radio Map at 1.49GHz: Vary
Large Array (VLA) Radio Telescope:
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NGC 3718 is a highly disturbed galaxy in Ursa Major. Astronomers originally thought that NGC 3718 was a Lenticular Galaxy. However later photos showed two faint extensions that emerge from the envelope on opposite sides of the periphery, showing that it is most likely a spiral galaxy. The galaxy forms an interacting pair with NGC 4753 (outside of the Kopernik image above). The distance to NGC 3718 is roughly 52 Million Light Years.
Some astronomers include NGC 3718 in the class of galaxies with active nuclei known as LINERs (Low-Ionization Nuclear Emission-line Regions). Others classify it as Seyfert galaxy. Many astronomers believe that active galactic nuclei are powered by giant black holes lurking in the center. (see also M-77).
NGC 3718 is also known as Arp 214, and is in Arp's class of "galaxies with irregularities, absorption and resolution". Arp noted that the galaxy is a "Barred spiral, (with a) sharp nucleus, narrow absorption lanes through center".
Quote from The Deep Sky Field Guide to Uranometria 2000:
"Very small, very bright nucleus, partly hidden by strong dark lane in smooth lens 3.8x2.4 arc minutes."
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George Normandin, KAS
May 27th, 2002
