The central area of the giant elliptical galaxy NGC 474. Its set versus a background of more distant galaxies. Will the Milky Way resemble this galaxy in the long run? This image was taken utilizing the Hubble Advanced Camera for Surveys, and consists of information from the Wide Field and Planetary Camera 3. (Courtesy NASA/STScI.).
Take a good appearance at the most recent image supplied by the Hubble Space Telescope. It reveals a big elliptical galaxy called NGC 474 that lies about 100 million light-years away from us. At about 2 and a half times larger than our Milky Way Galaxy, its actually a leviathan. Notification its odd structure– mainly featureless and almost round, however with layered shells twisted around the central core. Astronomers would like to know what caused these shells. The response may be in what this galaxy represents: a vision of the future Milky Way and the Andromeda Galaxy.
The Milky Ways Fate: When Galaxies Collide!
Galaxies change over long timescales. It influences the “appearance” of a galaxy and includes variety to its outstanding populations. Presently, its cannibalizing the Sagittarius Dwarf Galaxy.
Astronomers already know the Milky Way will continue to be part of the galaxy merger process. About 4.5 to 5 billion years from now it will start to merge with the neighboring Andromeda Galaxy (M31). As an added perk, the Triangulum Galaxy (M33) may likewise participate in this galactic dance.
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The main region of the giant elliptical galaxy NGC 474. Will the Milky Way resemble this galaxy in the remote future? It shows a big elliptical galaxy called NGC 474 that lies about 100 million light-years away from us. The answer might be in what this galaxy represents: a vision of the future Milky Way and the Andromeda Galaxy.
Astronomers currently know the Milky Way will continue to be part of the galaxy merger process.
NGC 474 Foretells the Milky Ways Future.
This illustration shows a phase in the predicted merger between our Milky Way galaxy and the surrounding Andromeda galaxy, as it will unfold over the next a number of billion years. In this image, representing Earths night sky in 3.75 billion years, Andromeda (left) fills the field of vision and starts to distort the Milky Way with tidal pull. (Credit: NASA; ESA; Z. Levay and R. van der Marel, STScI; T. Hallas; and A. Mellinger).
NGC 474 looks a lot like what astronomers think the Milky Way and Andromeda will look like after their merger. They wont be two gorgeous spirals any longer. Rather, their gravitational interaction will produce a practically featureless elliptical galaxy. How will that happen? As the two galaxies approach each other, the strong gravity of every one will distort their shapes. Giant streamers of gas and dust will get taken out of each galaxy. There might even be main shells of product, much like in NGC 474.
In addition to all that activity, theres another trademark of a merger: starburst knots. They are websites of star development that take place in the wake of a merger. The activity pushes clouds of gas and dust together, eventually developing scads of hot, young stars. Thatll happen as long as theres sufficient material offered to the starbirth nurseries.
The resulting new galaxy will presume a relatively boring-looking elliptical shape. And, its the fate of Milkdromeda: a (most likely) featureless elliptical that once was 2 stunning spiral galaxies.
Discussing those Shells in NGC 474.
This image from the Dark Energy Survey (DES) shows galaxy NGC 474 with the neighboring spiral NGC 470. The Hubble image zeroed in on the central area of the elliptical. (Credit: DES/DOE/Fermilab/ NCSA & & CTIO/NOIRLab/NSF/ AURA Acknowledgments: Image processing: DES, Jen Miller (Gemini Observatory/NSFs NOIRLab), Travis Rector (University of Alaska Anchorage), Mahdi Zamani & & Davide de Martin.).
In the case of NGC 474, astronomers have a couple of theories about why it has these odd shells. One idea is that it interacted with another galaxy billions of years back. NGC 474 is not alone in having collision-caused shells.
Theres another fascinating thing about these shelled galaxies. While most ellipticals are in clusters, these oddballs inhabit fairly empty stretches of area. Its possible they may have cannibalized neighboring galaxies and thus cleared out their areas of any stellar competitors.
Other Theories about NGC 474.
Its also possible that NGC 474 is removing gas away from a neighboring one called NGC 470. Another idea is that the shells may be triggered by a collision with a very gas-rich galaxy. Not only did they meet as soon as, but they had a second collision that led to their final merger. The shells are the evidence of that long-merged galaxy. Hubbles view provides a more comprehensive take a look at that central region and those strange shells.
To learn more.
Hubble Peers Through Giant Ellipticals Layers.
Its Inevitable: Milky Way, Andromeda Galaxy Heading for Collision.
NGC 474 As Viewed by KCWI: Diagnosing a Shell Galaxy.
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