Astronomers Observe NGC 5018 Galaxy Group

Sci-News.com | Aug 9, 2018 | News Staff / Source

[ETL]

Astronomers using ESO’s VLT Survey Telescope (VST) have examined a small group of five galaxies in the southern hemisphere. The results will be published in the Astrophysical Journal.

The NGC 5018 galaxy group lies in the constellation of Virgo, approximately 130 million *light-years from Earth.

*[one light year, the distance light travels in a year, at its fixed speed of 186,000 miles per second, works out to about 5.9 trillion miles -etl]

It consists of the giant elliptical galaxy NGC 5018, the edge-on spiral galaxy NGC 5022, the spiral galaxy MCG-03-34-013, and two face-on dwarf, gas-rich spirals.

NGC 5018 (the milky-white galaxy near the center of the new VST image) is the dominant member of the group.

It may at first resemble nothing but a diffuse blob. But, on closer inspection, a tenuous stream of stars and gas — a tidal tail — can be seen stretching outwards from this galaxy.

Delicate galactic features such as tidal tails and stellar streams are hallmarks of galactic interactions, and provide vital clues to the structure and dynamics of galaxies.

As well as the many elliptical — and a few spiral — galaxies in the VST image, a colorful variety of bright foreground stars in our own Milky Way Galaxy also pepper the image.

These stellar interlopers, such as the vividly blue HD 114746 near the center of the image, are not the intended subjects of this astronomical portrait, but happen to lie between the Earth and the distant galaxies under study.

Less prominent, but no less fascinating, are the faint tracks left by asteroids in our own Solar System.

Just below NGC 5018, the faint streak left by the asteroid 2001 TJ21 (110423) can be seen stretching across the image.

Further to the right, another asteroid, 2000 WU69 (98603), left its trace in this spectacular image.

[ETL]

This deep image of the area of sky around the elliptical galaxy NGC 5018 offers a spectacular view of its tenuous streams of stars and gas. These delicate features are hallmarks of galactic interactions, and provide vital
clues to the structure and dynamics of early-type galaxies. Image credit: Spavone et al / ESO.

This annotated view of the surroundings of NGC 5018 shows many of its neighbors. It also reveals a few asteroids that were captured by chance during the deep exposures needed to reveal the delicate streams of stars
between the galaxies. Image credit: Spavone et al / ESO.

[sparklite2]

source link?

[Mariner]

To think that most of the stars we see in the sky are actually galaxies of billions of stars, does humble man.

Or should.

[Tea Party Terrorist]

Most of the stars we see in the sky are actual galaxies?

News to me.

[Praxeologue]

giant elliptical galaxy

Galaxies are circular.

group of five galaxies in the southern hemisphere

There are no galaxies in the southern hemisphere.

The sun does not orbit the earth, either.

[Mariner]

“News to me.”

That’s because I’m wrong.

[ETL]

Oops!

Here it is...

Astronomers Observe NGC 5018 Galaxy Group
http://www.sci-news.com/astronomy/ngc-5018-galaxy-group-06287.html

[ETL]

To think that most of the stars we see in the sky are actually galaxies of billions of stars, does humble man.

Where did you get that from?

[dragnet2]

Most stars you can see from your back yard are in our Milky Way Galaxy. Some have estimated that are about 10 trillion galaxies in the universe. Multiplying that by the Milky Way's estimated 100 billion stars....It's a lot of stars.☺

[ETL]

Galaxies are circular.

[ETL]

Some have estimated that are about 10 trillion galaxies in the universe.

I've never heard an estimate anywhere near that high. I've heard/read 100-200 billion.

[dragnet2]

You have now...See “Galaxy Observations” section.

https://www.space.com/26078-how-many-stars-are-there.html

[ETL]

Thanks. First time I’ve heard that.

“In October 2016, an article in Science (based on deep-field images from the Hubble Space Telescope) suggested that there are about 2 trillion galaxies in the observable universe”

[BitWielder1]

Why do they have to explain what a light year is, every time?
No other unit of measurement gets that treatment.
We're all supposed to know already what they are.

[ETL]

Why do they have to explain what a light year is, every time? No other unit of measurement gets that treatment. We're all supposed to know already what they are.

We're all supposed to know already how many miles are in a light year? You can't be serious? Even many of the regulars probably wouldn't recall. Then there are always new comers to these threads.

[Telepathic Intruder]

Estimates vary wildly in this category, depending on which theory is correct. But estimates are limited to the known universe only, implying a much larger unknown one. The 10 trillion galaxy estimate is not an unpopular one.
https://www.space.com/26078-how-many-stars-are-there.html

[dragnet2]

There are all kinds of “estimates”...However, I would guess the higher number estimates are more in line.

[ETL]

[fieldmarshaldj]

*ping*

[BeauBo]

Space Force Camo Pattern:

Only the brightest celestial objects are visible in this pattern. For example, Uranus is not shown..