Antennae Galaxies

Antennae Galaxies
Antennae Galaxies
Antennae galaxies xl.jpg
NGC 4038 (left) & NGC 4039 (right)
Observation data (J2000 epoch)
Constellation Corvus[1]
Right ascension 12h 01m 53.0s / 12h 01m 53.6s[2]
Declination -18° 52′ 10″ / -18° 53′ 11″[2]
Redshift 1642 ± 12 / 1641 ± 9 km/s[2]
Distance 45 Mly / 65 Mly
Type SB(s)m pec / SA(s)m pec[2]
Apparent dimensions (V) 5′.2 × 3′.1 / 3′.1 × 1′.6[2]
Apparent magnitude (V) 11.2 / 11.1[2]
Notable features Interacting galaxies
Other designations
Ringtail Galaxy,[2] NGC 4038 / 4039,[2]
PGC 37967 / 37969, Arp 244,[2] Caldwell 60/61
See also: Galaxy, List of galaxies

The Antennae Galaxies (also known as NGC 4038/NGC 4039 or Caldwell 60/61) are a pair of interacting galaxies in the constellation Corvus. They are currently going through a phase of starburst. They were discovered by William Herschel in 1785.[3] NGC 4038 is located at RA 12h 01m 53.0s, Dec −18° 52′ 10″; and NGC 4039 at RA 12h 01m 53.6s, Dec −18° 53′ 11″.

Contents

General information

NGC40384039 large.jpg

The Antennae are undergoing a galactic collision. Located in the NGC 4038 group with five other galaxies, these two galaxies are known as the 'Antennae' because the two long tails of stars, gas and dust thrown out of the galaxies as a result of the collision resemble the antennae of an insect. The nuclei of the two galaxies are joining to become one giant galaxy. Most galaxies probably undergo at least one significant collision in their lifetimes. This is likely the future of our Milky Way when it collides with the Andromeda Galaxy. Two supernovae have been discovered in the galaxies: SN 2004GT and SN 2007sr.

A recent study finds that these interacting galaxies are closer to the Milky Way than previously thought—at 45 million light-years instead of 65 million light-years.[4]

Timeline

About 1.2 billion years ago, the Antennae were two separate galaxies. NGC 4038 was a barred spiral galaxy and NGC 4039 was a spiral galaxy. Before the galaxies collided, NGC 4039 was larger than NGC 4038.[citation needed] 900 million years ago, the Antennae began to approach one another, looking similar to NGC 2207 and IC 2163. 600 million years ago, the Antennae passed through each other, looking like the Mice Galaxies. 300 million years ago, the Antennae's stars began to be released from both galaxies. Today the two streamers of ejected stars extend far beyond the original galaxies, making the antennae shape.

Within 400 million years, the Antennae's nuclei will collide and become a single core with stars, gas, and dust around it.[citation needed] Observations and simulations of colliding galaxies suggest that the Antennae Galaxies will eventually form an elliptical galaxy.[5]

X-ray source

This montage of Chandra images shows a pair of interacting galaxies known as The Antennae. The top image, a wide field X-ray view, reveals spectacular loops of hot gas spreading out from the southern part of The Antenna into intergalactic space. In the closeup view on the lower left, the point sources have been taken out to emphasize the hot gas clouds in the central regions of The Antennae. The image at the lower right is processed and color-coded to show regions rich in iron (red), magnesium (green) and silicon (blue). Image is 4.8 arcmin across. Instrument: ACIS. Color code: Energy (Red: 0.3–0.65 keV, Green: 0.65–1.5 keV, Blue: 1.5–6.0 keV). Credit: NASA/CXC/SAO/G.Fabbiano et al.

Rich deposits of neon, magnesium, and silicon were discovered from the Chandra X-ray Observatory analysis of the Antennae Galaxies. These elements are among those that form the building blocks for habitable planets. The clouds imaged contain magnesium and silicon at 16 and 24 times, respectively, the abundance in the Sun.

Gallery

See also

References

  1. ^ R. W. Sinnott, editor (1988). The Complete New General Catalogue and Index Catalogue of Nebulae and Star Clusters by J. L. E. Dreyer. Sky Publishing Corporation and Cambridge University Press. ISBN 0933346514. 
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i "NASA/IPAC Extragalactic Database". Results for NGC 4038 / 4039. http://nedwww.ipac.caltech.edu/. Retrieved 2006-12-07. 
  3. ^ "Corvus". Universe Today. http://www.universetoday.com/guide-to-space/constellations/corvus/. Retrieved 2006-12-07. 
  4. ^ "The Antennae Galaxies Found To Be Closer To Us". Space Daily. 2008-05-12. http://www.spacedaily.com/reports/The_Antennae_Galaxies_Found_To_Be_Closer_To_Us_999.html. Retrieved 2008-06-30. 
  5. ^ J. E. Barnes, L. Hernquist (1992). "Dynamics of interacting galaxies". Annual Review of Astronomy and Astrophysics 30 (1): 705–742. Bibcode 1992ARA&A..30..705B. doi:10.1146/annurev.aa.30.090192.003421. 

External links

Coordinates: Sky map 12h 01m 53s, −18° 52′ 10″


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем написать курсовую

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Galaxies des Antennes — Galaxie des Antennes NGC 4038 (à gauche) NGC 4039 (à droite) Découverte Découvreur(s) William Herschel Date 1785 …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Galaxias Antennae — Datos de observación (Época J2000.0) Tipo SB (s) m pec / SA (s) m pec …   Wikipedia Español

  • Atlas of Peculiar Galaxies — The Atlas of Peculiar Galaxies is a catalog of peculiar galaxies produced by Halton Arp. A total of 338 galaxies are presented in the atlas, which was originally published in 1966 by the California Institute of Technology.The primary goal of the… …   Wikipedia

  • List of galaxies — This is a list of notable galaxies.List* 4C 37.11 * Abell 1835 IR1916 * AM 0644 741 * Andromeda Galaxy (M31/NGC 224) * Andromeda I * Antennae Galaxies (NGC 4038/NGC 4039) * Aquarius Dwarf * Arp 299 pair of colliding galaxies; has six recorded… …   Wikipedia

  • Mice Galaxies — NGC 4676A / 4676B The Mice Galaxies, NGC 4676A (right)/NGC 4676B (left) Observation data (J2000 epoch) Constellation Coma Berenices …   Wikipedia

  • Atlas of Peculiar Galaxies — Der Atlas of Peculiar Galaxies ist ein Astronomischer Katalog. In ihm sind 338 ungewöhnliche Galaxien mit photographischen Aufnahmen aufgeführt. Die Antennen Galaxie (Arp 244) Inhaltsverzeichnis 1 …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • NGC 4038 — Galaxies des Antennes Galaxie des Antennes NGC 4038 (à gauche) NGC 4039 (à droite) Découverte Découvreur(s) William Herschel Date …   Wikipédia en Français

  • NGC 4039 — Galaxies des Antennes Galaxie des Antennes NGC 4038 (à gauche) NGC 4039 (à droite) Découverte Découvreur(s) William Herschel Date …   Wikipédia en Français

  • NGC 4038 — Галактика …   Википедия

  • NGC 4039 — Галактика …   Википедия

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”