Description
We present Hubble Space Telescope Wide Field Planetary Camera 2 images of the inner regions of NGC 3081, an absolute magnitude M_B_=-20.0 early-type barred spiral having four well-defined resonance rings: a nuclear ring, an inner ring, an outer R_1_ ring, and an outer R'_2_ pseudoring. Here we focus on a photometric study of the inner ring, a feature likely associated with an inner 4:1 resonance near the ends of the bar. The ring is notable for its high contrast and sharp definition, which is due to a significant degree of active star formation. The ring is also notable for its significant intrinsic elongation and parallel alignment with the bar.
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