The morphological classification of this galaxy is (R)SAB(s)a,[6] which indicates a spiral galaxy with a weak-bar around the nucleus (SAB), no ring around the bar (s), an outer ring (R), and tightly-wound spiral arms (a). It is inclined by an angle of 57° to the line of sight from the Earth, with the long axis oriented at a position angle of 324°.[3] The disk of gas and stars shows a noticeable warp, and there is a pronounced asymmetry in the distribution of neutral hydrogen and H II regions.[10]
ESA
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The core region contains a suspected weak active galactic nucleus plus a circumnuclear ring containing star clusters and supernova remnants at a distance of ~280 pc from the center. These form a ring of peculiar "hot spots".[11] It was formerly identified as a possible Seyfert galaxy,[3] but evidence now points to starburst activity in a ~500 pc radius around the center.[12] A probable outflow of gas is directed to the north-east from the nucleus, forming prominent dust lanes.[3] The high level of star formation in this galaxy and the nearby NGC 1792 may indicate a recent, distant tidal interaction between the two.[10]
One supernova has been observed in NGC 1808: SN1993af (typeIa, mag. 17) was discovered by Marina Wischnjewsky on 15 November 1993 at 220″ east and 94″ north of the galactic nucleus.[13][14][15]
05h 07m 42.331s, −37° 30′ 45.88″![A Hubble Space Telescope image of NGC 1808 taken using WFPC2[16]](/File:NGC_1808HSTFull.jpg)
Media related to NGC 1808 at Wikimedia Commons
