NGC1377: An Extragalactic Proto-Starburst

NGC1377 is the archetype of a class of galaxies called nascent starbursts, selected by their very high infrared to radio continuum flux ratios and their high dust temperatures. This nearby galaxy is an ideal test case to refine the understanding of the mechanisms of the infrared-radio correlation of star-forming galaxies; to characterize the physical conditions of an embedded starburst at its very onset; and to gain a better knowledge of the activity of a class of ultraluminous galaxies sharing the main infrared-radio properties of NGC1377. We present new data on NGC1377 obtained as part of the Spitzer Infrared Nearby Galaxies Survey (SINGS) Legacy program and discuss briefly our interpretation of the combined optical, infrared and radio properties.