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NGC 2903 is a stunning barred spiral galaxy located in the constellation of Leo. It was first discovered by William Herschel in 1784 and is estimated to be approximately 30 million light-years away from Earth. It is one of the brightest and most prominent galaxies in the region and has been studied extensively by astronomers and astrophysicists. One of the most striking features of NGC 2903 is its prominent central bar structure. This bar is made up of stars and gas that have been pulled inwards by gravity, and it is thought to play a crucial role in the evolution of the galaxy. The bar structure helps to funnel gas and dust towards the center of the galaxy, where it can be used to fuel the formation of new stars.
NGC 2903 is also known for its active star-forming regions. These regions are located mainly along the spiral arms of the galaxy and are marked by bright clusters of young stars. The star formation in NGC 2903 is believed to be fueled by the galaxy’s abundant supply of gas and dust, which is thought to be drawn inwards by the central bar structure. Another fascinating aspect of NGC 2903 is its supermassive black hole. The black hole is located at the center of the galaxy and is estimated to have a mass of around 100 million times that of our Sun. It is thought to be actively accreting matter, which is causing it to emit intense radiation across the electromagnetic spectrum.
Additional Information
Object
Name(s): NGC 2903. UGC 5079
Type: Barred Spiral Galaxy
RA: 09h 32m 09s
Dec: +21º 29’ 58”
Constellation: Leo
Size (arcmin): 13×6 arcmin
Magnitude: +9.0
Distance: 32 Mly
Image
Date: 2022-03-19 to 2023-01-22
Location: Curiosity2 Observatory, New Mexico Skies, Mayhill, NM, USA
Size (arcmin): 24×16 arcmin
Telescope: 24” (61 cm) f/6.5 Reflector
Camera: FLI PL16803 (4096x4096pix)
Guiding: Astrodon MonsterMOAG off-axis guider
Total exposure: 19.25 hours (L: 6h; Ha: 6h; RGB: 7h 15m)
Processing: CCDStack, PixInsight (one step) and Photoshop CC 2023