NGC 7713 is a spiral galaxy located in the constellation Pisces. It is cataloged in the New General Catalogue of Nebulae and Clusters of Stars, a comprehensive catalog of deep-sky objects compiled by John Louis Emil Dreyer in 1888.
Characteristics: NGC 7713 is classified as a barred spiral galaxy, meaning it possesses a central bar-shaped structure composed of stars. Its classification is typically SBb or SBc, indicating the tightness of its spiral arms. The galaxy is notable for its ongoing gravitational interaction with its smaller, more irregular companion galaxy, NGC 7714. This interaction is a significant aspect of NGC 7713's characteristics, as the tidal forces between the two galaxies have triggered intense star formation within NGC 7713, classifying it as a starburst galaxy. The pair is sometimes referred to as Arp 284 in Halton Arp's Atlas of Peculiar Galaxies or as VV 51 in Vorontsov-Velyaminov's Atlas of Interacting Galaxies.
Location: NGC 7713 is situated in the northern celestial hemisphere, within the boundaries of the constellation Pisces, the Fish. Its approximate distance from Earth is estimated to be around 100 to 110 million light-years.
Observational Significance: Due to the dramatic interaction and starburst activity, NGC 7713 and its companion NGC 7714 are subjects of interest for astronomers studying galaxy evolution, star formation processes triggered by mergers, and the dynamics of interacting galaxy systems. The system provides an excellent example of how gravitational encounters can reshape galaxies and ignite new eras of stellar birth.