Comments on: Twin Spiral Galaxies Dance Together

By: Brack the barbarian

Brack the barbarian — Sat, 28 Jun 2008 19:46:21 +0000

Fabulous picture but what is the mysterious object to the right of the centre of the face on galaxy and below the centre of the oblique one (at roughly the apex of where an imaginary triangle would be)? It's a small bilobate blob which seems to be extruding a fainter blob from its middle. It's presumably a more distant galaxy, I certainly can't think what else it might be, but what is going on???

By: Nexus

Nexus — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 23:25:33 +0000

Neoguru:
I'm pretty sure most of the dust and gas in a galaxy is contained within the galactic disc. The reason we can't see our galactic core is that we're right in the plane of the galactic disc ourselves and so we've got all those dust clouds right in our line of sight.

We can see the cores of those twin galaxies because we're looking at them pretty much from directly above. As long as the band of stars I was talking about isn't directly in line with either galaxy's disc, an observer there should have a great view of both galactic cores.

By: robbb

robbb — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 16:49:29 +0000

we do have an amazing view right here, right now. especially considering at some point in the very very distant future there will be no stars in the night sky at all once the galaxies have drifted far enough apart.

By: ron stone

ron stone — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 16:18:14 +0000

Afraid your right about that. We too should have a fantastic view of the galactic centre but for the gasses and dust in the way. But think how lucky we are to live in an age when we can look at these sort of images. I always check this sight out first in the morning and am constantly astounded at the images that are almost becoming commmon place!

By: neoguru

neoguru — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 14:37:07 +0000

Would the view from a planet circling a star between the galaxies really be that spectacular? I suspect the gas and dust would obscure most of the sight just as it does within our own galaxy. Pity.

By: Greg

Greg — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 12:07:54 +0000

This configuration of two galaxys colliding seems like an ideal test subject to find evidence of dark matter and its distribution

By: AJames

AJames — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 10:37:25 +0000

Sorry

The distances in the last paragraph should be;

NGC 5426 : 38.9 Mpc or 126.9 M.ly for NGC 5426
NGC 5427 : 39.6 Mpc or 129.2 M.ly.

Mean distance of both are more like;
127.8 or 128 million light years.

Andrew

By: AJames

AJames — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 10:34:09 +0000

Thanks for this interesting article.

IMPORTANT COMMENT :

I would like to point out just a minor flaw which seems endemic of the articles that appear in Universe Today (and elsewhere),

If you must discuss an object, PLEASE give both the constellation that it is in and the co-ordinates of the object(s) in question.

Those wishing to seek out more information on the Net or even planetarium software about the objects can then at least make some general assessment about the article and its implications (without much though interpreting the image). Ie. As the galaxies are in the "constellation of" Virgo – and thus they imply both are reasonably close galaxies to us. (At least Nancy has done this, but this is not always the case!)

However, the Right Ascension and Declination positions are not, meaning you have to go somewhere else find where they are.
I.e. Try Goggling "NGC 5427", and you will find it as the 19th on the list (assuming you have set the preferences to be twenty items instead of the default of ten. Type "NGC 5426" )

Note: The RA and Dec of NGC 5427 is 14h 03.4m -06 deg 02' and NGC 5426 is 14h 03.4m -06 deg 04'

Note 2: Readers can quick;y find details on these galaxies in the "NASA/IPAC Extragalactic Database (NED)

Note 3: The current distance of 90 million light-years seems to small. Using the value of 38.9 Mpc (mega parsecs – million parsecs) gives 126.9 M.ly for NGC 5426 AND 39.6 Mpc or 129.2 M.ly. This makes the mean distance more like 127.8 or 128 million light years.

By: marcellus

marcellus — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 07:31:13 +0000

South up is typical for a Newtonian reflector, but I doubt that is what Gemini south is configured at.

At any rate, it is an awesome picture of two interacting galaxies.

What is the minimum aperture that an amateur astronomer observe these two with?

By: dilip

dilip — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 06:31:50 +0000

It's a strange way to show a picture, with south up!

By: Astrofiend

Astrofiend — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 23:14:32 +0000

"# Nexus Says:
June 26th, 2008 at 3:00 pm

"Look at the band of stars connecting the two galaxies. On a planet orbiting one of those stars, the night sky must be absolutely spectacular."

I love speculating about that sort of thing. Spectacular indeed!

By: Steve

Steve — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 22:03:20 +0000

It's a glimpse to our future when the Andromeda galaxy plows into us (or us them)

By: Nexus

Nexus — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 22:00:50 +0000

Look at the band of stars connecting the two galaxies. On a planet orbiting one of those stars, the night sky must be absolutely spectacular.

By: Sakib

Sakib — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 18:05:49 +0000

Awww thats sweet, two galaxies in love! It's last for millions of years!

By: zifferman

zifferman — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 16:14:40 +0000

Clearly these two galaxies are getting it on.

Maybe we should let them have their privacy, people? Geesh!

After all, we can't just tell them why don't they
get a room. A universe maybe, but….

By: Amir

Amir — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 16:13:30 +0000

That's unbelievable. That means that this picture is how these 2 galaxies were 90 million years ago, but at this moment in time they are probably merged or something, but we won't know for another 90 million years!!!

So incredible the distances in space.