NGC 2207 and IC 2163

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.

NGC 2207 / IC 2163
Hubble Space Telescope image of NGC 2207 (left) and IC 2163 (right)
Observation data (J2000 epoch)
Constellation	Canis Major
Right ascension	06^h 16^m 22.0^s / 06^h 16^m 28.0^s
Declination	−21° 22′ 22″ / −21° 22′ 33″
Redshift	0.0092 [ 2741 ± 15 / 2765 ± 20 km/s ]
Distance	81 ± 39 Mly (24.9 ± 12 Mpc)
Apparent magnitude (V)	12.2 / 11.6
Characteristics
Type	SAB(rs)bc pec / SB(rs)c pec
Size	123,400 ly / 87,650 ly
Apparent size (V)	4.3′ × 2.8′ / 3.0′ × 1.2′
Notable features	colliding galaxies
Other designations
RR132a / RR132b, PGC 018749 / 018751, UGCA 124/125, NGC 2207/IC 2163, 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.

Supernovae

See also