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youtube: msleechristie, check it out!


==X-ray source== ==X-ray source==

Revision as of 23:42, 28 October 2013

Antennae Galaxies
NGC 4038 (left) and NGC 4039 (right)
Observation data (J2000 epoch)
ConstellationCorvus
Right ascension12 01 53.0 / 12 01 53.6
Declination−18° 52′ 10″ / −18° 53′ 11″
Redshift1642 ± 12 / 1641 ± 9 km/s
Distance45 Mly / 65 Mly
Apparent magnitude (V)11.2 / 11.1
Characteristics
TypeSB(s)m pec / SA(s)m pec
Apparent size (V)5′.2 × 3′.1 / 3′.1 × 1′.6
Notable featuresInteracting galaxies
Other designations
Ringtail Galaxy, NGC 4038 / 4039,
PGC 37967 / 37969, Arp 244, Caldwell 60/61

The Antennae Galaxies, also known as NGC 4038/NGC 4039, 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. NGC 4038 is located at RA 12 01 53.0, Dec −18° 52′ 10″; and NGC 4039 at RA 12 01 53.6, Dec −18° 53′ 11″.

General information

Ground-based telescopic view of the Antennae galaxies.

The Antennae Galaxies are undergoing a galactic collision. Located in the NGC 4038 group with five other galaxies, these two galaxies are known as the Antennae Galaxies because the two long tails of stars, gas and dust ejected from the galaxies as a result of the collision resemble an insect's antennae. 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 less remote from the Milky Way than previously thought—at 45 million light-years instead of 65 million light-years.

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. 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, resulting in 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. Observations and simulations of colliding galaxies suggest that the Antennae Galaxies will eventually form an elliptical galaxy. youtube: msleechristie, check it out!

X-ray source

Images of the Antennae Galaxies from the Chandra X-ray Observatory. The top image is an X-ray image of the galaxy, the lower left image was edited to reveal clouds of gas near the galaxies' centers, and the lower right image is color-coded to show areas containing certain elements. Red coloring represents iron, green represents magnesium, and blue represents silicon.

Areas containing large amounts of neon, magnesium, and silicon were found when the Chandra X-ray Observatory analyzed the Antennae Galaxies. These elements are necessary in order for planets that may contain life to form. The clouds imaged contain 16 times as much magnesium and 24 times as much silicon as the Sun.

Gallery

  • ESO's VLT observes the Antennae Galaxies. ESO's VLT observes the Antennae Galaxies.
  • Antennae Galaxies composite of ALMA and Hubble observations Antennae Galaxies composite of ALMA and Hubble observations

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 0-933346-51-4. {{cite book}}: |author= has generic name (help)
  2. ^ "NASA/IPAC Extragalactic Database". Results for NGC 4038 / 4039. Retrieved 2006-12-07.
  3. "Corvus". Universe Today. Retrieved 2006-12-07.
  4. "The Antennae Galaxies Found To Be Closer To Us". Space Daily. 2008-05-12. Archived from the original on 17 May 2008. Retrieved 2008-06-30. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  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


Caldwell catalogue
List
See also
New General Catalogue 4000 to 4499
Categories: