Spatial regularity of the young stellar population in the ring of NGC 6217

TL;DR

This study reveals a unique spatial regularity in the distribution of young stars along the ring of NGC 6217, with a characteristic spacing of about 700 pc, contrasting with the irregular distribution in its spiral arms.

Contribution

It is the first detection of regular spacing of young stellar groups in a galactic ring, providing new insights into star formation processes in such structures.

Findings

Regular spacing of about 700 pc in the galaxy ring

No similar regularity found in spiral arms

First observation of such regularity in galactic rings

Abstract

The relative contribution of various physical processes to the spatial and temporal distribution of molecular clouds and star-forming regions in the disks of galaxies has not been fully studied. The spatial regularity in the distribution of the young stellar population in spiral and ring structures is a good test to study this contribution. We investigate photometric properties of the ring and spiral arms in the barred spiral galaxy NGC 6217 based on analysis of GALEX ultraviolet, optical UBVRI and Halpha surface photometry data. The ring in the galaxy is located near the corotation area. A spatial regularity in the distribution of the young stellar population along the galaxy ring was found. The characteristic scale of spacing is about 700 pc. At the same time, we did not find a similar regularity in the distribution of the young stellar population along the spiral arms of NGC 6217. The spatial regularity in concentration of young stellar groupings along spiral arms is a quite rare phenomenon, and it has never been found before in galactic rings.