NGC 7673

NGC 7673 is a spiral galaxy located approximately 150 million light-years away in the constellation Pegasus. It is classified as a starburst galaxy, indicating a period of unusually high star formation. This intense star formation is believed to be triggered by gravitational interactions with other galaxies, although no obvious companion galaxies are currently visible in its immediate vicinity.

The galaxy exhibits a highly disturbed morphology, with asymmetric spiral arms and numerous bright knots of star formation. These bright knots are thought to be giant HII regions, areas of ionized hydrogen gas surrounding newly formed, massive stars. NGC 7673 is also notable for its relatively low metallicity for a galaxy of its size and luminosity, which might be related to recent gas accretion fueling the starburst activity.

NGC 7673 is a popular target for astronomers studying star formation, galaxy evolution, and the effects of tidal interactions on galactic structure. Its unusual characteristics make it a valuable resource for understanding the processes that shape galaxies over cosmic time.