All images are AI generated
Hubble views galaxy ESO 185-IG013, a luminous blue compact galaxy (BCG) that shows an intense burst of star formation. BCGs are relatively close-by equivalents for galaxies from the early universe, helping scientists learn about galaxy formation and evolution that may have been happening billions of years ago.
Hubble Views Galaxy: ESO 185-IG013, a Luminous Blue Compact Galaxy
Related Video
The Hubble Space Telescope, a joint project between NASA and the European Space Agency, has captured a breathtaking image of ESO 185-IG013, a luminous blue compact galaxy (BCG). BCGs are relatively rare galaxies that exhibit an intense burst of star formation, making them unusually blue in visible light. This distinguishes them from other high-starburst galaxies that primarily emit infrared light.
Hubble Views Galaxy: Why Study ESO 185-IG013?
Astrophysicists study BCGs because they provide a unique opportunity to observe galaxies similar to those in the early universe. By studying BCGs, scientists can gain insights into galaxy formation and evolution processes that occurred billions of years ago.
Hubble Views Galaxy: Revealing Details about ESO 185-IG013’s Past
The Hubble image of ESO 185-IG013 reveals intricate details about its past. Hundreds of young star clusters, some less than 100 million years old, populate the galaxy. Notably, a significant number of these clusters are only 3.5 million years old, mere infants in the grand scheme of the universe. Scientists believe that many of these young clusters may not survive due to the expulsion of gas from the clusters.
Hubble Views Galaxy: Collision and Merger Shaping ESO 185-IG013
The abundance of young star clusters suggests that ESO 185-IG013 underwent a recent galaxy collision and merger. This event likely triggered intense star formation and reshaped the galaxy’s structure through violent interactions between gas and dust. The merger provided ample fuel for ongoing star formation in the galaxy.
Hubble Views Galaxy: Tidal Shell and Gas Tail: Signs of a Merger
ESO 185-IG013 exhibits a tidal shell, a diffuse glow surrounding its bright center, which is a common indicator of galaxy mergers. During a merger, the smaller galaxy is disrupted by the larger galaxy, releasing material that is then pulled back in by the gravity of the larger galaxy. The dense area where this material is repositioned forms the shell, which often contains numerous star clusters. Additionally, ESO 185-IG013 boasts a tail of gas in the northeast, further supporting the merger hypothesis.
Hubble Views Galaxy: Impressive Mass and Distance
The combined mass of all the stars in ESO 185-IG013 is an astounding 7 billion times that of our sun. This luminous blue compact galaxy resides approximately 260 million light-years away from Earth.
Wrapping Up
The Hubble Space Telescope’s image of ESO 185-IG013 provides valuable insights into the galaxy’s history and evolution. By studying BCGs, astronomers can explore galaxy formation and evolution processes that occurred in the early universe, helping us better understand the cosmos’s vast history..
FAQs
1. What is the significance of ESO 185-IG013?
ESO 185-IG013 is a luminous blue compact galaxy (BCG), which are relatively rare galaxies that exhibit an intense burst of star formation, making them unusually blue in visible light. These galaxies provide insights into galaxy formation and evolution processes that occurred billions of years ago.
2. How old are the star clusters in ESO 185-IG013?
The Hubble image reveals that ESO 185-IG013 contains hundreds of young star clusters, some less than 100 million years old. Notably, a significant number of these clusters are only 3.5 million years old.
3. What evidence suggests that ESO 185-IG013 underwent a galaxy collision and merger?
The abundance of young star clusters and the presence of a tidal shell and gas tail in ESO 185-IG013 point to a recent galaxy collision and merger. During a merger, the smaller galaxy is disrupted by the larger galaxy, releasing material that is then pulled back by gravity, triggering intense star formation and reshaping the galaxy’s structure.
4. What is the mass and distance of ESO 185-IG013?
The combined mass of all the stars in ESO 185-IG013 is an astounding 7 billion times that of our sun. This luminous blue compact galaxy resides approximately 260 million light-years away from Earth.
5. Why is studying ESO 185-IG013 important?
By studying BCGs like ESO 185-IG013, astronomers can explore galaxy formation and evolution processes that occurred in the early universe, helping us better understand the cosmos’s vast history.
Links to additional Resources:
1. https://www.nasa.gov 2. https://www.spacetelescope.org 3. https://www.eso.org.Related Wikipedia Articles
Topics: Galaxy formation, Star clusters, Hubble Space TelescopeGalaxy formation and evolution
The study of galaxy formation and evolution is concerned with the processes that formed a heterogeneous universe from a homogeneous beginning, the formation of the first galaxies, the way galaxies change over time, and the processes that have generated the variety of structures observed in nearby galaxies. Galaxy formation is...
Read more: Galaxy formation and evolution
Star cluster
Star clusters are large groups of stars held together by self-gravitation. Two main types of star clusters can be distinguished: globular clusters are tight groups of ten thousand to millions of old stars which are gravitationally bound, while open clusters are more loosely clustered groups of stars, generally containing fewer...
Read more: Star cluster
Hubble Space Telescope
The Hubble Space Telescope (often referred to as HST or Hubble) is a space telescope that was launched into low Earth orbit in 1990 and remains in operation. It was not the first space telescope, but it is one of the largest and most versatile, renowned as a vital research...
Read more: Hubble Space Telescope
