Young Star-Forming Complexes in the Ring of the S0 galaxy NGC 4324

TL;DR

This study identifies and analyzes young star-forming complexes in the inner ring of the S0 galaxy NGC 4324 using multiwavelength data, revealing their distribution pattern and suggesting possible evolutionary scenarios.

Contribution

First detailed multiwavelength analysis of star-forming regions in NGC 4324, highlighting their distribution and potential evolutionary paths.

Findings

Detected young star-forming complexes in NGC 4324's inner ring.

Found a regular but evolving pattern of complex distribution.

Proposed minor merging as a likely evolutionary scenario.

Abstract

We present the results of our study of starforming regions in the lenticular galaxy NGC 4324. During a complex analysis of multiwavelength observational data -- the narrow-band emission-line images obtained with the 2.5-m telescope at the Caucasus Mountain Observatory of the Sternberg Astronomical Institute of the Moscow State University and the archival images in the broad bands of the SDSS, GALEX and WISE surveys -- we have detected young starforming complexes (clumps) located in the inner ring of the lenticular galaxy NGC 4324, and we have established a regular pattern of their distribution along the ring, which, nevertheless, changes with time (with age of starforming regions). We suggest several possible evolutionary paths of the lenticular galaxy NGC 4324, of which the accretion of gas-rich satellites or giant clouds (the so-called minor merging) is the most probable one.