03h16m00.7s, −02° 25′38″03h16m 00.7s[1]
−02° 25′ 38″[1]
0.007238 ± 0.000017[2]
2170 ± 5 km s−1[2]
Characteristics
Half-light radius (physical)
2.96 kpc
Half-light radius (apparent)
20.4"[2]
Notable features
AGN, molecular outflow, suppressed SFR
Other designations
PGC 12131
NGC 1266 is a lenticular galaxy in the constellation Eridanus. Although not currently starbursting, it has undergone a period of intense star formation in the recent past, ceasing only ≈500 Myr ago.[3] The galaxy is host to an obscured active galactic nucleus.[4]
A massive molecular outflow, with 2.4 × 107 M
The current observed star-formation rate (SFR) of ~0.87 M
Two hypotheses exist to explain NGC 1266's nuclear activity and excessive far-IR emission. Either a heavily obscured ultracompact starburst is present in the nuclear regions, or a powerful buried AGN is present, beyond what has been inferred from other observations. Neither scenario is without problems. The black hole at the center of the galaxy is likely growing according to the M–sigma relation, and eventually the outflow will result in the removal of the majority of the gas from the nucleus.[5]
Other
Other
