December 23, 2024

Atlas of Peculiar Galaxies: Strong-Arming a Galaxy

The galaxys unusual look has actually earned it the distinction of appearing in the Atlas of Peculiar Galaxies, a mindful curation by astronomer Halton Arp of some of the strange and fantastic galaxies occupying the Universe. The 338 galaxies in the Atlas are a rogues gallery of unusual and weird galaxy shapes selected to offer astronomers with a brochure of odd galaxy structures.
While NGC 772s peculiarities dominate this image, there is likewise a menagerie of galaxies prowling in the background. The brilliant smears and smudges littering this image are really distant galaxies– a few of the closer examples can be fixed into particular spiral shapes. Every instructions in the sky that astronomers have pointed telescopes toward contains an abundant carpet of galaxies, with an estimated 2 trillion galaxies in total in our observable Universe.

This additional big arm is due to one of NGC 772s unruly next-door neighbors, NGC 770, a dwarf elliptical galaxy. The tidal interactions in between NGC 772 and its diminutive companion have misshaped and extended one of the spiral galaxys arms, giving it the unbalanced look exposed in this image.
NGC 772 also does not have a brilliant central bar. Other spiral nebula such as the Andromeda Galaxy or our own Milky Way display popular main bars– large, linear structures made up of gas, dust, and numerous stars. Without a bar, NGC 772s spiral arms purge directly from the bright center of the galaxy.

Other spiral galaxies such as the Andromeda Galaxy or our own Milky Way show popular central bars– big, linear structures made up of gas, dust, and many stars. The 338 galaxies in the Atlas are a rogues gallery of weird and uncommon galaxy shapes picked to offer astronomers with a catalog of odd galaxy structures. Every direction in the sky that astronomers have pointed telescopes toward consists of a rich carpet of galaxies, with an estimated 2 trillion galaxies in overall in our observable Universe.

The overdeveloped spiral arm of the galaxy NGC 772, which was created by tidal interactions with a rowdy neighbor, controls this observation made by astronomers utilizing the Gemini North telescope situated near the summit of Maunakea in Hawaii. Credit: International Gemini Observatory/NOIRLab/NSF/ AURA, Image processing: T.A. Rector (University of Alaska Anchorage), J. Miller (Gemini Observatory/NSFs NOIRLab), M. Zamani & & D. de Martin
The pumped-up arm of the lopsided spiral nebula NGC 772 controls this image recorded by the global Gemini Observatory, a Program of NSFs NOIRLab.
The overdeveloped spiral arm of the galaxy NGC 772, which was formed by tidal interactions with a rowdy neighbor, controls this observation made by astronomers using the Gemini North telescope, which lies near the summit of Maunakea in Hawaii. Galaxy NGC 772s odd appearance has made it a location as the 78th entry in the Atlas of Peculiar Galaxies– a rogues gallery of marvelous and strange galaxy structures.