ESO Studying Mysterious Dwarf Galaxy Formed After Cosmic Collision

The European Southern Observatory used its Very Large Telescope at the Paranal Observatory to take detailed images of NGC 5291. NGC 5291 is located in the constellation of Centaurus. NGC 5291 is an elliptical galaxy that collided with another galaxy over 360 million years ago.

As a result of the collision, a dwarf galaxy was also formed; NGC 5291N. Astronomers have particular interest with this dwarf galaxy because according to their data, NGC 5291N mysteriously contains no old stars.

Centered in the image above is NGC 5291. Also seen is the Seashell Galaxy (MCG-05-33-005), a comma-shaped galaxy which appears to leech off NGC 5291’s luminous core. On the right side of the image is NGC 5291N. The dwarf galaxy was observed using MUSE's integral field spectrography.

The MUSE observations revealed unexpected oxygen and hydrogen emission lines in the outskirts of NGC 5291N.

A dwarf galaxy is a small galaxy containing less stars than a regular galaxy. It is usually composed of up to several billion stars. A regular galaxy like the Milky Way has 200 to 400 billion stars. Since these dwarf galaxies are small, they have been observed to be pulled toward and merge with nearby spiral galaxies. The Milky Way is believed to be a result of a build up of several dwarf galaxies.

Image of Sculptor Dwarf Galaxy Captured By ESO

The Sculptor Dwarf Galaxy, pictured in this new image from the Wide Field Imager camera, installed on the 2.2-metre MPG/ESO telescope at ESO’s La Silla Observatory, is a close neighbour of our galaxy, the Milky Way. Despite their close proximity, both galaxies have very distinct histories and characters. This galaxy is much smaller and older than the Milky Way, making it a valuable subject for studying both star and galaxy formation in the early Universe. However, due to its faintness, studying this object is no easy task.

The Sculptor Dwarf Galaxy — also known as the Sculptor Dwarf Elliptical or the Sculptor Dwarf Spheroidal — is a dwarf spheroidal galaxy, and is one of the fourteen known satellite galaxies orbiting the Milky Way. This is not to be confused with the similarly named and much brighter Sculptor Galaxy which is located in the same constellation of Sculptor.

A dwarf galaxy is a small galaxy composed of up to several billion stars. A regular galaxy like the Milky Way has 200 to 400 billion stars. Since these dwarf galaxies are small, they have been observed to be pulled toward and merge with nearby spiral galaxies.

Twenty Years Later: Hubble Telescope Recaptures Pillars of Creation in HD

The Pillars of Creation is one of the most memorable and iconic images taken by the NASA/ESA Hubble Telescope in 1995.

Now, 20 years after the image was taken, the Hubble telescope returned to that location and took an even clearer and amazing image of the Pillars of Creation in HD. Watch accompanying video (Hubblecast 82) for more details.

The Pillars of Creation is a part of Messier 16 or the Eagle Nebula. Nebulas are clouds of gas and dust in space where stars and planets start to form. It is believed that our own Sun was formed in a similar region resembling the Pillars.

The new mage of the Pillars of Creation is so iconic that it is not unnatural to see the image in movies, t-shirts, stamps, and accessories. Its release marks the 25th year of the Hubble Telescope in orbit and was presented at the 225th meeting of the American Astronomical Society in Seattle, Washington, USA.

Bubble Shaped Planetary Nebula Abell 33 In Hydra Constellation Imaged

A Nebula is an interstellar cloud made up of dist and gases. The word "nebula" is latin for cloud. These astronomical objects are regions where stars are made due to the materials present in the nebula which are needed to form a star.

Dust and ionized gasses such as hydrogen and helium start to amass together getting larger and larger until they become massive enough to form a star. Some of the materials present in the nebula can also form planets and other astronomical object.

Abell 33 found in the constellation Hydra, 2500 light-years from Earth, is a planetary nebula. This type of nebula does not form planets as the name implies. It was a misnomer that has been carried on when William Herschel incorrectly thought of that and coined the term. It has been called that every since.

Planetary nebulas are emission type nebulas that are formed when stars eject ionized gas in its later stages, this gas forms an expanding glowing shell. They are important in the evolution of stars since planetary nebulas contain heavy elements such as carbon, nitrogen, and oxygen.