NGC 2139 is a barred spiral galaxy located approximately 120.6 million light-years away in the constellation Lepus.
It has an apparent size of about 2.4 × 1.9 arcminutes and an apparent magnitude of 11.6.
Classified as type SAB(rs)cd, NGC 2139 exhibits a weak central bar structure, a somewhat defined inner ring, and loosely wound spiral arms.
The galaxy lacks a significant central bulge, which is uncommon among spiral galaxies.
NGC 2139’s very irregular morphology and tidal features suggest a recent merger or interaction event.
A prominent plume extends southward from the main structure, further indicating past gravitational interactions and there is a fainter tidal tail extending above the galaxy as well as a faint halo.
The galaxy is actively forming stars, with a star formation rate estimated at 3.8 solar masses per year. Near its center lies a young star cluster, approximately 41 million years old and containing about 830,000 solar masses.
This cluster is offset from the galaxy’s kinematic center and is considered a potential “nuclear-cluster-to-be,” possibly migrating toward the center over the next few hundred million years.
Three supernovae have been observed in NGC 2139: SN 1995ad (Type II), SN 2022qhy (Type Ibn), and SN 2023zcu (Type II).
Although it shares its region of the sky with other galaxies, NGC 2139 is often overlooked in favor of more well-known objects, making it an interesting subject for study.
Imaged in LRGB on my Planewave CDK 1000 at Observatorio El Sauce, Chile.
Image acquisition and processing: Mike Selby