NGC 1266
NGC 1266 is a lenticular galaxy in the constellation Eridanus. Although not currently starbursting, it has undergone a period of intense star formation in the recent past, ceasing only ≈500 Myr ago. The galaxy is host to an obscured active galactic nucleus. A massive molecular outflow, with 2.4 × 107 M of hydrogen, is present from the nucleus of the galaxy, at a rate of 110 M yr−1. Less than 2% of the gas (2 M yr−1) is escaping the galaxy. Momentum coupling to the jet of the AGN is likely driving the outflow. The current observed star-formation rate (SFR) of ~0.87 M yr−1 is significantly lower than expected for a galaxy of its properties, suppressed by a factor of 50 to 150. Authors have put forth several hypotheses to explain these observations. The most likely scenario is that the AGN-driven molecular outflow is injecting turbulence into the nuclear regions, preventing gravitational collapse of molecular clouds. NGC 1266 is the first known intermediate-mass galaxy to show AGN-driven suppression of star formation. Two hypotheses exist to explain NGC 1266's nuclear activity and excessive far-IR emission. Either a heavily obscured ultracompact starburst is present in the nuclear regions, or a powerful buried