NGC 4536 has the optical characteristics of an HII galaxy, which means it is undergoing a strong burst of star formation.[10] This is occurring prominently in the ring that surrounds the bar and nucleus.[11] Based upon the level of X-ray emission from the core, it may have a small supermassive black hole with 104–106 times the mass of the Sun.[10]
On March 8, 1981, a type Ia supernova was discovered 51 arcseconds to the northeast of the Galactic Center. Designated SN 1981b, it reached a peak visual magnitude of 12 on March 8 before steadily fading from view over the next two months. No prior supernova events have been observed in this galaxy.[6]
Gallery
Detail of a region of extremely rapid star formation in this "starburst galaxy".[12]
^ abSkrutskie, Michael F.; Cutri, Roc M.; Stiening, Rae; Weinberg, Martin D.; Schneider, Stephen E.; Carpenter, John M.; Beichman, Charles A.; Capps, Richard W.; Chester, Thomas; Elias, Jonathan H.; Huchra, John P.; Liebert, James W.; Lonsdale, Carol J.; Monet, David G.; Price, Stephan; Seitzer, Patrick; Jarrett, Thomas H.; Kirkpatrick, J. Davy; Gizis, John E.; Howard, Elizabeth V.; Evans, Tracey E.; Fowler, John W.; Fullmer, Linda; Hurt, Robert L.; Light, Robert M.; Kopan, Eugene L.; Marsh, Kenneth A.; McCallon, Howard L.; Tam, Robert; Van Dyk, Schuyler D.; Wheelock, Sherry L. (1 February 2006). "The Two Micron All Sky Survey (2MASS)". The Astronomical Journal. 131 (2): 1163–1183. Bibcode:2006AJ....131.1163S. doi:10.1086/498708. ISSN0004-6256. S2CID18913331.
^ abcdButa, R. J.; Turner, A. (January 1983), "The photometric properties of the bright Type I supernova 1981b in NGC 4536", Publications of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific, 95: 72–78, Bibcode:1983PASP...95...72B, doi:10.1086/131120.