NGC 1672 is a barred spiral galaxy located in the constellation Dorado. In the Catalogue of Named Galaxies, it is called Lophephora Doradus, or the crested galaxy. It was originally thought to be a member of the Dorado Group, however, this membership was later rejected. NGC 1672 has a large bar which is estimated to measure around 20 kpc.
It has very strong radio emissions emanating from its nucleus, bar, and the inner portion of the spiral arm region. The nucleus is Seyfert type 2 and is engulfed by a starburst region. The strongest polarized emissions come from the northeastern region which is upstream from its dust lanes. Magnetic field lines are at large angles with respect to the bar and turn smoothly to the center.
It has very strong radio emissions emanating from its nucleus, bar, and the inner portion of the spiral arm region. The nucleus is Seyfert type 2 and is engulfed by a starburst region. The strongest polarized emissions come from the northeastern region which is upstream from its dust lanes. Magnetic field lines are at large angles with respect to the bar and turn smoothly to the center.
The center of the galaxy contains a high surface brightness bar, and four filament-like spiral arms extend outward from the ends of this bar. The spiral arms are asymmetric; one of the arms in the northeast part of the disk is significantly brighter than its counterpart on the other side. The spiral arms also contain numerous star formation regions, some of which may be as large as 4′′.
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| These observations of NGC 1672 were taken with Hubble's Advanced Camera for Surveys in August of 2005. |
The classification of the nucleus of NGC 1672 is uncertain. Most galaxies may be classified by their spectra as having one of three different types of nuclei:
A nuclear HII region, a region which has a spectrum similar to that of star formation regions in the Milky Way and which therefore is associated with nuclear star formation activity.
A Seyfert nucleus, a type of active galactic nucleus (AGN) that may contain a supermassive black hole.
A low ionization nuclear emission-line region, a type of nuclear region with spectral line emission from weakly ionized gas that could contain either a star formation region or a supermassive black hole.
NGC 1672, however, is one of several nearby galaxies that does not fit into this classification scheme, as its spectrum appears intermediary between these three classes of objects. It may in fact contain both nuclear star formation regions and an AGN. In some wave bands (such as in ultraviolet light), the star formation regions are the primary source of emission.