De Vaucouleurs Atlas Type: (R)SB(r)b pec

Filter: B

Telescope: KPNO 0.9-m
North left , East down
Field Dimensions: 4.7 x 3.5 arcminutes

RC3 Type: -----
RSA Type: ----
Surface Brightness Range Displayed: 20.0-26.0 mag per square arcsec
Absolute Blue Magnitude: -20.1
Elmegreen Spiral Arm Class: AC 3

De Vaucouleurs Atlas Description:

This intriguing object has a well-defined bar and inner ring , but the bar is confused in blue light by a strange, highly elongated ring feature of unknown nature. As far as we know, the galaxy is unique in having such an unusual ring. The B-I color index map shows that this feature has enhanced blue colors, and that the bright starlike object on its north end is very blue and likely to be a compact stellar association. Early sticky particle simulations (e.g., Byrd et al. 1994) suggested that for the right pattern speed , an ILR ring might have a highly elongated shape along the bar axis. However, most nuclear rings are smaller and rounder than predicted by such simulations. Regan and Teuben (2004) have suggested that the feature is an ``x₁ ring", made of x₁ orbits aligned with the bar. If so, such rings are either highly transient or occur only for very special conditions.

The outer ring recognized in the classification is a weak feature made of numerous spiral segments rather than well-defined arms. In many ways the structure of NGC 6012 resembles that of NGC 1433 , except for the strange bar ring. The Sb classification is based on the general patchiness of the disk.