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Strange Setup: Andromeda's Satellite Galaxies All Lined Up
space.com ^
| 01/23/06
| Ker Than
Posted on 01/24/2006 6:31:08 PM PST by KevinDavis
An unusually high number of galaxies are aligned along a single plane running through the center of the giant Andromeda galaxy. Scientists dont have a theory to explain why.
Galactic cannibalism or dark matter may be responsible, researchers say.
The Andromeda galaxy is located at a distance of 2.5 million light-years away and is the nearest spiral galaxy to the Milky Way. Like our own galaxy, Andromeda is surrounded by numerous dwarf galaxy satellites. Many of these satellites are within 1.3 million light-years or less of the galaxys main disk.
Using the Hubble Space Telescope, Eva Grebel and Andrew Koch from the University of Basel in Switzerland found that nine out of Andromedas fourteen dwarf galaxy satellites reside in a single plane. The plane is about 52,000 light-years wide and is aligned perpendicular to Andromedas own galactic plane, within which the galaxys stars orbit about the center.
(Excerpt) Read more at space.com ...
TOPICS: Miscellaneous; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: andromeda; galaxies; space
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To: RightWhale; Brett66; xrp; gdc314; anymouse; NonZeroSum; jimkress; discostu; The_Victor; ...
2
posted on
01/24/2006 6:32:32 PM PST
by
KevinDavis
(http://www.cafepress.com/spacefuture)
To: KevinDavis
This could be "hugh and series"! Are we doomed? LOL!
To: KevinDavis
Using the Hubble Space Telescope, Eva Grebel and Andrew Koch from the University of Basel in Switzerland found that nine out of Andromedas fourteen dwarf galaxy satellites reside in a single plane. The plane is about 52,000 light-years wide and is aligned perpendicular to Andromedas own galactic plane, within which the galaxys stars orbit about the center.Sounds kinda similar to our solar system, just on a much bigger scale.
4
posted on
01/24/2006 6:33:09 PM PST
by
dirtboy
(My new years resolution is to quit using taglines...)
To: KevinDavis
Wow.
From what I know the Andromeda is less than half the milky way's mass. Besides, what is a galaxy anyway? Any cluster of stars far enough away from any other cluster? Reminds me of the pluto debate. How do we know if the kupier belt asteriods aren'tr planets again, eh? Similarly how do we these 'satell galaxies" arent just arbit starlumps floating around...
5
posted on
01/24/2006 6:34:47 PM PST
by
voletti
(Awareness and Equanimity.)
To: KevinDavis
"If this scenario were correct, we would expect these satellites to maintain the original orbit from the original galaxy form which they came," Grebel explained. Early results from computer models suggest that such a scenario is physically possible. ..my eyes glazed over after star
Doogle
6
posted on
01/24/2006 6:37:48 PM PST
by
Doogle
(USAF...8thAF...4077th TFW...408th MMS...Ubon Thailand..."69"..Night Line Delivery,AMMO)
To: lexington minuteman 1775
Yup! We're doomed.
Drink heavily and forget calling as you and your phone will have melted.
mc :-)
7
posted on
01/24/2006 6:39:04 PM PST
by
mcshot
(Rusty but trusty or vice versa.)
To: KevinDavis
Artist's conception of the polar plane of satellite galaxies around Andromeda. The plane passes perpendicularly through the center of Andromed and points towards M33 and M81. credit: E.K. Grebel/A. Koch
8
posted on
01/24/2006 6:43:41 PM PST
by
Grim
To: voletti
From what I know the Andromeda is less than half the milky way's mass.huh...
Milky Way Galaxy is about 100,000 light years in diameter. Andromeda Galaxy is estimated between 225,000 LY and 260,000 LY.
Mr LaForge, we'll need warp 9.999999996! ENGAGE!
9
posted on
01/24/2006 6:47:30 PM PST
by
xrp
To: Grim
10
posted on
01/24/2006 6:56:46 PM PST
by
demkicker
(democrats and terrorists are familiar bedfellows)
To: KevinDavis
You have to like the phrase, "Galactic cannibalism."
To: Interesting Times; All
What is Bush doing about this???
12
posted on
01/24/2006 7:00:03 PM PST
by
KevinDavis
(http://www.cafepress.com/spacefuture)
To: voletti
Andromeda, also known as Messier Object 31 or M31, is about 200 thousand light-years across and about 1.5 times more massive than the Milky Way.
13
posted on
01/24/2006 7:01:51 PM PST
by
staytrue
(MOONBAT CONSERVATIVES are those who would rather lose to a liberal than support a moderate)
14
posted on
01/24/2006 7:02:54 PM PST
by
shield
(The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instructions.Pr 1:7)
To: KevinDavis
Dare I say it, "The Stars are Aligning"
15
posted on
01/24/2006 7:09:57 PM PST
by
pangaea6
To: KevinDavis
An unusually high number of galaxies are aligned along a single plane running through the center of the giant Andromeda galaxy. Scientists dont have a theory to explain why.Galactic cannibalism or dark matter may be responsible, researchers say.
Dark matter? Dark magic sounds more like it. Satellite galaxies riding along the polar plane. Man, that's just downright Satanic.
And to top it off, it points towards M81, known as "Bode's Galaxy". Indeed, this all "Bodes" not well at all.
(just in case anybody's wondering, that was all sarcasm; I haven't really lost my mind - yet)
16
posted on
01/24/2006 7:16:30 PM PST
by
inquest
(If you favor any legal status for illegal aliens, then do not claim to be in favor of secure borders)
To: KevinDavis
Bush arranged for this to happen, to benefit Haliburton and Texas oilmen, and to ensure a Republican victory in the November 2006 elections.
To: Grim
Thank you for posting that!
18
posted on
01/24/2006 7:30:54 PM PST
by
Steveone
(Liberalism is a brain tumor!)
To: Grim
A picture is worth a thousand words.
19
posted on
01/24/2006 7:37:06 PM PST
by
stevio
(Red-Blooded American Male (NRA))
To: KevinDavis
20
posted on
01/24/2006 7:40:39 PM PST
by
Moonman62
(Federal creed: If it moves tax it. If it keeps moving regulate it. If it stops moving subsidize it)
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