Comments on: A weird and lovely spiral for your weird and lovely Monday

By: Chris A.

Chris A. — Wed, 04 Apr 2012 02:06:40 +0000

@Aaron (#6):

“‘I’m rather surprised this hasn’t been studied more!’ — With all the millions of galaxies that distance or nearer, maybe they just haven’t gotten around to it yet.”

Actually, at that distance (just a bit further than the Virgo Cluster), I’d estimate that the number of galaxies to study is more like tens of thousands, not millions. That’s based on the fact that the Virgo Cluster is, by far, the largest collection of galaxies within 60 million light years, and it’s estimated to have “only” around 2000 galaxies in it.

By: Corey Feldman

Corey Feldman — Tue, 03 Apr 2012 14:42:09 +0000

I just think it is beautiful.

By: Jess Tauber

Jess Tauber — Tue, 03 Apr 2012 14:33:22 +0000

Maybe the colliding neighbor is hiding BEHIND it? Danged coward if you ask me.

By: Messier Tidy Upper

Messier Tidy Upper — Tue, 03 Apr 2012 07:11:23 +0000

Great photo, interesting galaxy thanks BA.

Our own Milky Way has, perhaps, fairly indistinct spiral arms too. (Its a bit hard to tell from inside as the latest ‘New Scientist’ magazine notes with different studies producing different “maps” of the Milky Way’s structure. There are certainly large dark rifts, nebulous regions – such as the recently discussed Dragonfish nebula – and clouds and unclear separations and connections with our Galaxy’s arms so, yeah, we could have a messy look as seen from intergalactic space too.)

Hmm .. perhaps from outside our Galaxy and this look similar(~ish?) ?

By: Wzrd1

Wzrd1 — Tue, 03 Apr 2012 03:08:14 +0000

It seems to be a galaxy that HAS “eaten” another galaxy, perhaps during a final orbital merge from quite some time ago.
I seem to recall seeing models for our own galaxy’s final mergers with the dwarf galaxies that are to eventually pass through, orbit back, pass through and eventually merge.
A decent survey in that galactic neighborhood should show some ejected stars, which would give a time for the merger, if that is the case.

By: Aaron

Aaron — Tue, 03 Apr 2012 00:40:35 +0000

“I’m rather surprised this hasn’t been studied more!” — With all the millions of galaxies that distance or nearer, maybe they just haven’t gotten around to it yet.

By: Stephen

Stephen — Mon, 02 Apr 2012 19:38:15 +0000

Not sure i’d call this a spiral. It’s got hot blue stars everywhere and in random structures.
Could it be dust and gas obscuring the structure?

By: VinceRN

VinceRN — Mon, 02 Apr 2012 17:41:01 +0000

What I want to know, is how did our host know my Monday would be so weird?

By: Jeff

Jeff — Mon, 02 Apr 2012 17:21:29 +0000

thanks, I love this emission line galaxy, relates to the experiments the students have done for years with hi-volt tube and low pressure gases like H, He, Ne, etc., and a simple diffraction grating separates the lines; they are very narrow at specific colors. It is amazing that all round the universe, these same lines exist as those right down in the lab.

By: Tara Li

Tara Li — Mon, 02 Apr 2012 17:15:58 +0000

Is it a spiral making the transition to an elliptical, or maybe vice-versa?