NGC 6503

NGC 6503 is a field dwarf spiral galaxy located approximately 18 million light-years away in the constellation Draco. It resides within the Local Void, a vast, relatively empty region of space bordering the Local Group (which contains the Milky Way and Andromeda galaxies). Due to its isolation, NGC 6503 offers astronomers a unique opportunity to study galaxy evolution in an environment largely unaffected by interactions with other galaxies.

The galaxy is relatively small, measuring about 30,000 light-years across, roughly one-third the size of the Milky Way. It displays a prominent central bulge, albeit a rather weak one, and well-defined spiral arms exhibiting active star formation. These arms are populated with numerous bright blue stars, indicating recent bursts of star formation.

Observations of NGC 6503 have revealed a supermassive black hole at its center, though significantly smaller than the black holes found in larger galaxies like the Milky Way. The galaxy also possesses a nuclear starburst region, further contributing to its active star formation rate.

The relative isolation of NGC 6503 and its location within the Local Void make it a valuable subject for studying the influence of environment on galaxy formation and evolution. Studies of its dark matter halo and stellar populations provide insights into the conditions under which dwarf spiral galaxies can form and persist in sparsely populated regions of the universe.