NGC 3281
NGC 3281 is a barred spiral galaxy located in the constellation Antlia. It is situated approximately 50 to 60 million light-years away from Earth. The galaxy is notable for possessing a prominent and energetic active galactic nucleus (AGN).
Characteristics
NGC 3281 is classified morphologically as a barred spiral galaxy, indicated by the presence of a bar-shaped structure of stars at its center from which the spiral arms emerge. A key feature of NGC 3281 is its active nucleus, which is categorized as a Seyfert 2 galaxy. Seyfert galaxies are a type of AGN characterized by bright emission lines in their spectra, suggesting the presence of supermassive black holes accreting material at their centers. In Seyfert 2 galaxies, the broad emission lines often seen in Seyfert 1 galaxies are obscured, typically by a torus of gas and dust surrounding the central engine.The galaxy exhibits distinct spiral arms and dust lanes characteristic of its morphological type. Its Seyfert 2 nature makes it an object of particular interest for studies of AGN, particularly regarding the structure and composition of the obscuring material around the central supermassive black hole and the interaction between the nucleus and the host galaxy.