| NGC 6503 | |
| Image Scale: | 1.3 |
| Z: | 0.000143 |
| H Radial V: | 28 km/s |
| Type: | SAB:(s)bc |
| Appmag V: | 10.2 |
NGC 6503 is a field dwarf spiral galaxy in the northern constellation of Draco. It was discovered by German astronomer Arthur von Auwers on July 22, 1854. The galaxy has an angular size of and an apparent visual magnitude of 10.2. It is located at a distance of approximately 6.4Mpc from the Milky Way galaxy. NGC 6503 may form the remote tip of a long chain of galaxies that extends out into the local void, forming a galaxy filament spanning 8Mpc.
The galactic plane of this galaxy is inclined at an angle of to the plane of the sky, with the major axis of its oval profile being aligned along a position angle of 121°. The morphological classification of NGC 6502 is SAB:(s)bc. This indicates a barred spiral galaxy (SAB:) with no inner ring structure (s) and moderately wound spiral arms (bc). However, the ':' notation indicates some uncertainty about the classification. Older works gave it a class of SA(s)bc; i.e. no bar.
A possible bar system has been reported via infrared observations, being viewed end-on from the perspective of the Earth. Ultraviolet observations show a young, inner star forming ring encircling the bar. The ring has a radius between 1 and 2.5 kpc from the core. There is a disk of neutral hydrogen that is larger in extent than the optical disk of the galaxy. This extra-planar gas is mostly the result of star formation activity, rather than cold gas that is being accreted. There is evidence for a LINER-type or Seyfert 2 nucleus.
NGC 6503 has one known satellite galaxy, known as KK 242. With a NGC 6503 by Hubble Space TelescopeNgc6503-hst-R814RGB658.jpg|NGC 6503 (HST)NGC 6503 HST.jpg|NGC 6503 from Hubble.