As a part of the Dorado Group, NGC 1512 forms an intriguing pair with its nearby companion NGC 1510, an interacting pair of galaxies. This cosmic duo makes for an interesting study in inter-galactic interactions.
NGC 1512 is especially known for its unique double-ring structure. The inner ring, identified as a nuclear ring, encircles the nucleus, while the more distant ring extends outward into the galaxy's disk, glowing in the ultraviolet spectrum. The Galaxy Evolution Explorer (GALEX) has validated this extended ultraviolet presence.
The NGC 1512 galaxy is a bustling hub of star formation, with at least 200 bright star clusters observed within its disk. This significant star formation in NGC 1512 is triggered by its ongoing interaction with NGC 1510, a dwarf lenticular galaxy located just 45,000 light-years away. The two galaxies began their interaction process around 400 million years ago, resulting in an astronomical dance that continues to shape them.
These inter-galactic interactions have sparked star formations on the outskirts of NGC 1512's disk, and are also responsible for the distortion of its spiral arms, particularly noticeable in its north-west region as per observations.
Accompanying this text is a composite optical image of NGC 1512 (right) and NGC 1510, captured with the 16-inch telescope of the Star Shadows Remote Observatory in Cito, Chile. The image, crafted using broadband filters (RGB), is credited to Mark Hanson, S. Mazlin, W. Keller, R. Parker, T. Tse, P. Proulx, D. Plesko; SSRO/PROMPT/CTIO.
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