Comments on: The galaxy that ate Detroit http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/02/05/the-galaxy-that-ate-detroit/ I am an astronomer, writer, and skeptic. I likes reality the way it is, and I aims to keep it that way. My real name is Phil Plait, and I run the Bad Astronomy blog. Tue, 14 Feb 2012 17:31:28 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Glob smacked | Bad Astronomy | Discover Magazine http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/02/05/the-galaxy-that-ate-detroit/comment-page-1/#comment-109798 Glob smacked | Bad Astronomy | Discover Magazine Tue, 05 Aug 2008 17:15:32 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/02/05/the-galaxy-that-ate-detroit/#comment-109798 [...] of years it’s built up its mass, eating the stars from other galaxies as they fly by (it also eats entire galaxies). Apparently it’s done that with globulars from dwarf galaxies too, stripping off their [...] [...] of years it’s built up its mass, eating the stars from other galaxies as they fly by (it also eats entire galaxies). Apparently it’s done that with globulars from dwarf galaxies too, stripping off their [...]

]]> By: Matt http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/02/05/the-galaxy-that-ate-detroit/comment-page-1/#comment-68642 Matt Thu, 07 Feb 2008 02:06:10 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/02/05/the-galaxy-that-ate-detroit/#comment-68642 on the possible collision, I am not sure exactly either, but it looked like interaction to me. That's what i love about picutres like this, you can really look them over and find so many cool things that I have no idea what they are. Of course I am analyzing this by squinting at my laptop screen. on the possible collision, I am not sure exactly either, but it looked like interaction to me.

That’s what i love about picutres like this, you can really look them over and find so many cool things that I have no idea what they are.

Of course I am analyzing this by squinting at my laptop screen.

]]> By: Tangled Bank #98! « PodBlack Blog http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/02/05/the-galaxy-that-ate-detroit/comment-page-1/#comment-68641 Tangled Bank #98! « PodBlack Blog Wed, 06 Feb 2008 21:16:04 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/02/05/the-galaxy-that-ate-detroit/#comment-68641 [...] it? Well, if I can make Firefly references with my submission - then you should check out his entry The Galaxy that ate Detroit. I wonder if it helped inspire the theme of science fiction drive-through that’s in the [...] [...] it? Well, if I can make Firefly references with my submission – then you should check out his entry The Galaxy that ate Detroit. I wonder if it helped inspire the theme of science fiction drive-through that’s in the [...]

]]> By: Ben http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/02/05/the-galaxy-that-ate-detroit/comment-page-1/#comment-68640 Ben Wed, 06 Feb 2008 06:24:00 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/02/05/the-galaxy-that-ate-detroit/#comment-68640 "Ben and Matt - Galaxies become ginormous when they embiggen themselves by devouring bazillions of smaller galaxies. Just wanted to help with the technical vocabulary… :-)" Thanks for clearing that up, Buzz. :-D “Ben and Matt -

Galaxies become ginormous when they embiggen themselves by devouring bazillions of smaller galaxies. Just wanted to help with the technical vocabulary… :-) ”

Thanks for clearing that up, Buzz. :-D

]]> By: Evolving Squid http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/02/05/the-galaxy-that-ate-detroit/comment-page-1/#comment-68639 Evolving Squid Wed, 06 Feb 2008 03:03:36 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/02/05/the-galaxy-that-ate-detroit/#comment-68639 I wondered about the lower left thing and almost posted that oen too... I couldn't decide if it was a collision, or a lucky superposition of two galaxies separated by a huge distance that just happen to be nearly in line. I wondered about the lower left thing and almost posted that oen too… I couldn’t decide if it was a collision, or a lucky superposition of two galaxies separated by a huge distance that just happen to be nearly in line.

]]> By: Buzz Parsec http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/02/05/the-galaxy-that-ate-detroit/comment-page-1/#comment-68638 Buzz Parsec Wed, 06 Feb 2008 02:15:00 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/02/05/the-galaxy-that-ate-detroit/#comment-68638 Ben and Matt - Galaxies become ginormous when they embiggen themselves by devouring bazillions of smaller galaxies. Just wanted to help with the technical vocabulary... :-) Ben and Matt -

Galaxies become ginormous when they embiggen themselves by devouring bazillions of smaller galaxies. Just wanted to help with the technical vocabulary… :-)

]]> By: Matt http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/02/05/the-galaxy-that-ate-detroit/comment-page-1/#comment-68637 Matt Wed, 06 Feb 2008 01:27:16 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/02/05/the-galaxy-that-ate-detroit/#comment-68637 Also, on the right side, about 2/3 down, look for the "eye of sauron" Also, on the right side, about 2/3 down, look for the “eye of sauron”

]]> By: Matt http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/02/05/the-galaxy-that-ate-detroit/comment-page-1/#comment-68636 Matt Wed, 06 Feb 2008 01:25:05 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/02/05/the-galaxy-that-ate-detroit/#comment-68636 If you look at the Xray composite pic, down in the lower left hand corner you can see a really cool galaxy collision. Make sure to embiggen! If you look at the Xray composite pic, down in the lower left hand corner you can see a really cool galaxy collision.

Make sure to embiggen!

]]> By: Evolving Squid http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/02/05/the-galaxy-that-ate-detroit/comment-page-1/#comment-68635 Evolving Squid Tue, 05 Feb 2008 23:09:47 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/02/05/the-galaxy-that-ate-detroit/#comment-68635 The elliptical galaxy is certainly cool, but there's some interesting stuff in the big picture... This guy seems to have formed a ring (near the bottom, centre): http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v471/dcowan38/board_posts/ring.jpg And this one just seems to be having issues (above and right of centre of the main elliptical): http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v471/dcowan38/board_posts/wtf.jpg The elliptical galaxy is certainly cool, but there’s some interesting stuff in the big picture…

This guy seems to have formed a ring (near the bottom, centre):
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v471/dcowan38/board_posts/ring.jpg

And this one just seems to be having issues (above and right of centre of the main elliptical):
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v471/dcowan38/board_posts/wtf.jpg

]]> By: John Macleod http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/02/05/the-galaxy-that-ate-detroit/comment-page-1/#comment-68634 John Macleod Tue, 05 Feb 2008 22:19:05 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/02/05/the-galaxy-that-ate-detroit/#comment-68634 In a stunning image like this (I blew it up big) how can you tell the globular clusters from galaxies. Many galaxy structures are obvious, you can see the spiral or see that you are looking at a galaxy edge on, but I can't tell which are the clusters. In a stunning image like this (I blew it up big) how can you tell the globular clusters from galaxies. Many galaxy structures are obvious, you can see the spiral or see that you are looking at a galaxy edge on, but I can’t tell which are the clusters.

]]> By: Gary Ansorge http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/02/05/the-galaxy-that-ate-detroit/comment-page-1/#comment-68633 Gary Ansorge Tue, 05 Feb 2008 21:00:12 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/02/05/the-galaxy-that-ate-detroit/#comment-68633 I just finished reading Rare Earth by Peter D. Ward and Donald Brownlee. Their contention is that, due to a lot of chaotic behavior in the universe, the probability of COMPLEX life managing to rise on any planet was nearly zero, though those though little bacteria could probably survive most planetary extinction events. THAT would go a long way toward explaining why we haven't been visited yet or may never be visited. GAry 7 I just finished reading Rare Earth by Peter D. Ward and Donald Brownlee. Their contention is that, due to a lot of chaotic behavior in the universe, the probability of COMPLEX life managing to rise on any planet was nearly zero, though those though little bacteria could probably survive most planetary extinction events.

THAT would go a long way toward explaining why we haven’t been visited yet or may never be visited.

GAry 7

]]> By: Sespetoxri http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/02/05/the-galaxy-that-ate-detroit/comment-page-1/#comment-68632 Sespetoxri Tue, 05 Feb 2008 19:57:20 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/02/05/the-galaxy-that-ate-detroit/#comment-68632 Actually, in retrospect he's not really talking about Hawking Radiation, but rather the heating of gas in the accretion disk around a black hole. This will explain that bit for you - http://www.astronomynotes.com/galaxy/s14.htm Sorry for the confusion! Actually, in retrospect he’s not really talking about Hawking Radiation, but rather the heating of gas in the accretion disk around a black hole. This will explain that bit for you – http://www.astronomynotes.com/galaxy/s14.htm

Sorry for the confusion!

]]> By: Sespetoxri http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/02/05/the-galaxy-that-ate-detroit/comment-page-1/#comment-68631 Sespetoxri Tue, 05 Feb 2008 19:53:22 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/02/05/the-galaxy-that-ate-detroit/#comment-68631 Kim, just google 'Hawking Radiation' and most everything you get will explain what Phil is talking about. Kim, just google ‘Hawking Radiation’ and most everything you get will explain what Phil is talking about.

]]> By: Kim http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/02/05/the-galaxy-that-ate-detroit/comment-page-1/#comment-68630 Kim Tue, 05 Feb 2008 19:23:28 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/02/05/the-galaxy-that-ate-detroit/#comment-68630 quote "Maybe the supermassive black hole in the core of NGC 1132 is furiously gobbling down matter, and spewing out vast amounts of energy in the process." Could you explain this statement? I thought nothing could escape a black hole. How does it spew energy out? I'm not doubting the statement at all. I'm a newbie regarding astronomy and the physics relating to it and am looking to learn. Thanks quote “Maybe the supermassive black hole in the core of NGC 1132 is furiously gobbling down matter, and spewing out vast amounts of energy in the process.”
Could you explain this statement? I thought nothing could escape a black hole. How does it spew energy out?
I’m not doubting the statement at all. I’m a newbie regarding astronomy and the physics relating to it and am looking to learn.
Thanks

]]> By: Joules http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/02/05/the-galaxy-that-ate-detroit/comment-page-1/#comment-68629 Joules Tue, 05 Feb 2008 18:07:28 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/02/05/the-galaxy-that-ate-detroit/#comment-68629 Beautiful! That relates to a recent article in astronomy magazine (their latest mag features galaxies). Someone wrote that ellipticals are the end of the road for a spiral galaxy like our milky way. It makes sense that in its own destruction it may drag its neighbors along with it. It's so fun to watch the pieces of a puzzle fit together. Beautiful!

That relates to a recent article in astronomy magazine (their latest mag features galaxies). Someone wrote that ellipticals are the end of the road for a spiral galaxy like our milky way. It makes sense that in its own destruction it may drag its neighbors along with it. It’s so fun to watch the pieces of a puzzle fit together.

]]> By: Ben http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/02/05/the-galaxy-that-ate-detroit/comment-page-1/#comment-68628 Ben Tue, 05 Feb 2008 17:20:59 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/02/05/the-galaxy-that-ate-detroit/#comment-68628 After staring at the pretty picture, your posting and the image made me think. Can we assume that, due to the ginormous (that's not a real word, I know, but it should be when it comes to cool things like that one) amount of X-rays that NGC 1132 will be a completeley dead galaxy, without any form of life? I repeatedly read that, because of the high density of stars in our galactic core and the resulting amount of cosmic rays all planets in the core will most likely be barren. So, if this is true, should we assume that smaller galaxies are better cribs for emerging life? Those questions may sound a little strange since we are talking about galaxies millions of lightyears away, but, well, it's the same approach I mostly take when it comes to space: When we go out one day, where should we knock? Ben After staring at the pretty picture, your posting and the image made me think. Can we assume that, due to the ginormous (that’s not a real word, I know, but it should be when it comes to cool things like that one) amount of X-rays that NGC 1132 will be a completeley dead galaxy, without any form of life?

I repeatedly read that, because of the high density of stars in our galactic core and the resulting amount of cosmic rays all planets in the core will most likely be barren. So, if this is true, should we assume that smaller galaxies are better cribs for emerging life?

Those questions may sound a little strange since we are talking about galaxies millions of lightyears away, but, well, it’s the same approach I mostly take when it comes to space: When we go out one day, where should we knock?

Ben

]]> By: Pat http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/02/05/the-galaxy-that-ate-detroit/comment-page-1/#comment-68627 Pat Tue, 05 Feb 2008 16:53:09 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/02/05/the-galaxy-that-ate-detroit/#comment-68627 I'm curious: has anybody put forth the idea that maybe ellipticals are the way they are because they ended up stripped of their dark matter after plummeting towards the center of a cluster? It /looks like/ most clusters are shells of dark matter as well, and if a standard spiral were stripped of the confinement provided by dark matter, wouldn't its higher energy plasma, stars, and dust be flung outward, leaving a proper Newtonian-orbiting spheroid of stars? Just wontering if it is the collisions or the situation that first makes an elliptical, rather than age. I’m curious: has anybody put forth the idea that maybe ellipticals are the way they are because they ended up stripped of their dark matter after plummeting towards the center of a cluster? It /looks like/ most clusters are shells of dark matter as well, and if a standard spiral were stripped of the confinement provided by dark matter, wouldn’t its higher energy plasma, stars, and dust be flung outward, leaving a proper Newtonian-orbiting spheroid of stars?

Just wontering if it is the collisions or the situation that first makes an elliptical, rather than age.

]]> By: Ken B http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/02/05/the-galaxy-that-ate-detroit/comment-page-1/#comment-68626 Ken B Tue, 05 Feb 2008 16:53:04 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/02/05/the-galaxy-that-ate-detroit/#comment-68626 What gets me is just how many other entire galaxies are in that image. What gets me is just how many other entire galaxies are in that image.

]]> By: Thanny http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/02/05/the-galaxy-that-ate-detroit/comment-page-1/#comment-68625 Thanny Tue, 05 Feb 2008 16:49:54 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/02/05/the-galaxy-that-ate-detroit/#comment-68625 It seems plausible to me that all globular clusters are probably the cores of consumed dwarf galaxies - the stars that were able to stay together due to their mutual gravity, while the rest was ripped away by tidal forces. If that view is accurate, then there's pretty much no way to know if a globular is stolen from a larger merged galaxy, or comes straight from the original dwarf. It seems plausible to me that all globular clusters are probably the cores of consumed dwarf galaxies – the stars that were able to stay together due to their mutual gravity, while the rest was ripped away by tidal forces.

If that view is accurate, then there’s pretty much no way to know if a globular is stolen from a larger merged galaxy, or comes straight from the original dwarf.

]]> By: Quiet_Desperation http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/02/05/the-galaxy-that-ate-detroit/comment-page-1/#comment-68624 Quiet_Desperation Tue, 05 Feb 2008 16:46:47 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/02/05/the-galaxy-that-ate-detroit/#comment-68624 <i>gravitational lensing </i> Orientation doesn't seem right. I think it's just edge on galaxies. gravitational lensing

Orientation doesn’t seem right. I think it’s just edge on galaxies.

]]> By: Pat http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/02/05/the-galaxy-that-ate-detroit/comment-page-1/#comment-68623 Pat Tue, 05 Feb 2008 16:46:35 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/02/05/the-galaxy-that-ate-detroit/#comment-68623 I'd like to know the distribution of dark matter, whether or not its in the typical shell. Goes towards collisionless: with so many other galaxies that might have had their own dark matter shells, would there be density waves or eddies? Did it gobble the galaxies and the dark matter? I’d like to know the distribution of dark matter, whether or not its in the typical shell. Goes towards collisionless: with so many other galaxies that might have had their own dark matter shells, would there be density waves or eddies? Did it gobble the galaxies and the dark matter?

]]> By: Quiet_Desperation http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/02/05/the-galaxy-that-ate-detroit/comment-page-1/#comment-68622 Quiet_Desperation Tue, 05 Feb 2008 16:42:26 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/02/05/the-galaxy-that-ate-detroit/#comment-68622 <i>Check it, babies</i> *sigh* Do we need to stage an intervention, Phil? ;-) I guess it's pretty. I'm a barred spiral man myself. Check it, babies

*sigh* Do we need to stage an intervention, Phil? ;-)

I guess it’s pretty. I’m a barred spiral man myself.

]]> By: cameron http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/02/05/the-galaxy-that-ate-detroit/comment-page-1/#comment-68621 cameron Tue, 05 Feb 2008 16:41:04 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/02/05/the-galaxy-that-ate-detroit/#comment-68621 Is it me or does it look like there's a good deal of gravitational lensing going on too? Is it me or does it look like there’s a good deal of gravitational lensing going on too?

]]> By: Mjbutah http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/02/05/the-galaxy-that-ate-detroit/comment-page-1/#comment-68620 Mjbutah Tue, 05 Feb 2008 16:03:27 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/02/05/the-galaxy-that-ate-detroit/#comment-68620 It is pretty....I love Hubble pictures. There is always so much going on, the longer you look the more you see. It is pretty….I love Hubble pictures. There is always so much going on, the longer you look the more you see.

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