UGC 6697

UGC 6697 is a large irregular spiral galaxy with a bar located in the Leo constellation. It is located 378 million light-years from the Solar System and has an estimated diameter of 205,000 light-years. UGC 6697 is considered a starburst galaxy which produces high rates of star formation.

A possible jellyfish galaxy?


UGC 6697 has a particular morphology. It is considered an edge-on galaxy and such has a long tidal tail with blue color and low surface brightness which stretches out northwest. This is in fact caused by dynamic pressure. It occurs when the galaxy plunges forward into the cluster, the pressure acts on the galaxy and penetrates through high speeds causing intracluster medium. In the process, the cooler gas is compressed and expelled from the galaxy's edge thus forming a trail. The gas trail extends 100 kpc which measures 326,000 light-years in diameter. In the long run, the dynamic pressure will eventually strip the gas from the galaxy, rending it an anemic galaxy.

According to observations from Chandra X-ray Observatory, it shows that more massive new stars have formed in compressed gas regions of UGC 6697 due to the result of increased dynamic stripping. These, however will explode into supernovas over the next 10 million years which its heat produces x-rays and optical light.

Companion galaxy
UGC 6697 has one companion galaxy which is CGCG 097-087N or 2MASX J11434983+1958343. It is located 379 million light-years away and also shows signs of distortion caused by dynamic pressure. Further studies show that the two galaxies might have interacted in the past.

Supernova
Type II supernova, SN 1986C was discovered in UGC 6697 on March 5, 1986, by B. Leibundgut and B. Binggeli of European Southern Observatory, La Silla. The supernova was magnitude of 18.

Group membership
UGC 6697 is a member of the Leo Cluster which is made up of at least 70 galaxies. The other members include NGC 3805, NGC 3837, the brightest cluster member NGC 3842, NGC 3860, NGC 3883, NGC 3884, NGC 3919, NGC 3929, NGC 3937, NGC 3940 and NGC 3954. Other galaxies included in the Leo Cluster are radio galaxy, NGC 3862 and IC 2955.