astronomy

NGC 2207 and IC 2163

NGC 2207 and IC 2163 is a astronomy topic covered in the lgStudy science library. This page brings together a partial reference excerpt, illustrations, worked examples, real-world applications and a short study plan, so you can understand NGC 2207 and IC 2163 rather than just read about it. In short: NGC 2207 and IC 2163 are a pair of colliding spiral galaxies about 80 million light-years away in the constellation Canis Major. NGC 2207 was discovered by British astronomer John Herschel on 24 January 1835, while IC 2163 was discovered by Herbert Howe on 11 February 1898.

Key takeaways

NGC 2207 and IC 2163 belongs to astronomy; place it in that map before memorising details.
Learn the definition first, then one example that makes the definition concrete.
Connect NGC 2207 and IC 2163 to a quantity you can measure, compute or draw — that is where exam questions come from.
Reproduce the core statement of NGC 2207 and IC 2163 from memory before moving on to harder problems.

Reference excerpt

NGC 2207 and IC 2163 are a pair of colliding spiral galaxies about 80 million light-years away in the constellation Canis Major. NGC 2207 was discovered by British astronomer John Herschel on 24 January 1835, while IC 2163 was discovered by Herbert Howe on 11 February 1898. The pair together carry the nickname the Cosmic Owl.

The larger spiral, NGC 2207, is classified as an intermediate spiral galaxy exhibiting a weak inner ring structure around the central bar. The smaller companion spiral, IC 2163, is classified as a barred spiral galaxy that also exhibits a weak inner ring and an elongated spiral arm that is likely being stretched by tidal forces with the larger companion. Both galaxies contain a vast amount of dust and gas, and are beginning to exhibit enhanced rates of star formation, as seen in infrared images. NGC 2207 is in the process of colliding and merging with IC 2163. But unlike the Antennae or the Mice Galaxies, they are still two separate spiral galaxies. They are only in the first step of colliding and merging, with NGC 2207 being in the process of tidally stripping IC 2163. Soon they will collide, probably looking a bit more like the Mice Galaxies. In about a billion years' time they are expected to merge and become an elliptical galaxy or perhaps a disk galaxy.

Supernovae Five supernovae have been observed in NGC 2207:

SN 1975A (Type Ia, mag. 14.4) was discovered by Justus R. Dunlap on 15 January 1975. SN 1999ec (Type Ib, mag. 17.9) was discovered by the Lick Observatory Supernova Search (LOSS) on 2 October 1999. SN 2003H (Type Ib, mag. 17.8) was discovered by LOTOSS (Lick Observatory and Tenagra Observatory Supernova Searches) on 8 January 2003, located halfway between the two galaxies. SN 2013ai (Type II, mag. 17.4) was discovered by E. Conseil on 1 March 2013. AT 2019eez (Type II, mag. 16.7) was discovered by ASAS-SN on 27 April 2019. One supernova has been observed in IC 2163:

SN 2018lab (Type II, mag. 18.493) was discovered by the Distance Less Than 40 Mpc Survey (DLT40) on 29 December 2018. In addition, one supernova has been observed on the outskirts of the group:

SN 2010jp (Type IIn, mag. 17.2) was discovered by The CHilean Automatic Supernova sEarch (CHASE) on 11 November 2010.

See also Andromeda–Milky Way collision Antennae Galaxies Arp 299 NGC 5090 and NGC 5091 NGC 6872 and IC 4970 List of NGC objects (2001–3000)

References

External links

HST: A grazing encounter between two spiral galaxies "NGC 2207". SIMBAD. Centre de données astronomiques de Strasbourg. "IC 2163". SIMBAD. Centre de données astronomiques de Strasbourg. NASA Astronomy Picture of the Day: Spiral Galaxies in Collision (19 January 2014)

Illustrations

Worked examples

Example 1 — a first encounter with NGC 2207 and IC 2163

Start with the simplest possible case. Write down what NGC 2207 and IC 2163 claims or describes in one sentence, then invent the smallest concrete situation in which that sentence is true. In astronomy, the smallest case is usually a single object, a single equation or a single measurement. Check that every symbol or term in your sentence has a meaning in that case.

Example 2 — changing one variable

Take the situation from Example 1 and change exactly one quantity: double it, halve it, or set it to zero. Predict what should happen to NGC 2207 and IC 2163 before you calculate. Comparing your prediction with the result is the fastest way to find out whether you understand the idea or only the words.

Example 3 — an exam-style question

Typical questions about NGC 2207 and IC 2163 ask you to (a) state it precisely, (b) apply it to given data, and (c) explain a limitation. Practise writing all three answers in under five minutes; the third part is what separates a full-mark answer from an average one.

Applications of NGC 2207 and IC 2163

In research: NGC 2207 and IC 2163 appears in astronomy research whenever the underlying quantities have to be modelled precisely. Papers usually cite it as a starting assumption and then explore where it breaks down.
In technology and industry: Engineering practice reuses NGC 2207 and IC 2163 in design rules, simulations and safety margins. Knowing the idea lets you read a specification sheet and understand why the numbers look the way they do.
In the classroom: NGC 2207 and IC 2163 is common in secondary-school and first-year university syllabi. It links to neighbouring topics Astronomical objects discovered in 1835, Astronomical objects discovered in 1898, Barred spiral galaxies, so understanding it makes those chapters shorter.
In everyday life: Look for NGC 2207 and IC 2163 outside the textbook — in sport, cooking, traffic, electronics or the sky above you. An example you found yourself is remembered far longer than one you were given.

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How to study NGC 2207 and IC 2163 in 20 minutes

Read the reference excerpt below once, without taking notes.
Close the page and write down what NGC 2207 and IC 2163 means in your own words.
Compare your version with the excerpt and mark what you missed.
Work through the three examples above with pen and paper.
Explain NGC 2207 and IC 2163 out loud to somebody else — or to Teacher Smith in the lgStudy chat.

Frequently asked questions

What is NGC 2207 and IC 2163 in simple terms?

Why does NGC 2207 and IC 2163 matter?

Because it connects several astronomy ideas at once: it gives you a definition you can apply, a quantity you can calculate, and a way to check whether a result is plausible.

How should I study NGC 2207 and IC 2163?

Read the excerpt, restate it from memory, then work through the examples and applications listed on this page. The five-step study plan above takes about twenty minutes.

What does this page cover?

It gives you a compact reference excerpt plus original lgStudy explanations, examples, applications and study material on NGC 2207 and IC 2163.