Sometimes, it can be tempting to believe that there is a supernatural force behind the arrangement celestial bodies.
However, the Universe is huge, vast even, and nature’s flow offers many fascinating sights.
It’s the same with the galactic triplet Arp 248. This arrangement of interconnected galaxies is both visually and scientifically stunning.
Arp 248 is a group of small, interconnected galaxies located around 200 million light years away from each other in the constellation Virgo.
The image shows Arp 248, two galaxies, and a smaller galaxy that is not related in the background.
The galaxies are connected via a stream of stars and gas that is created when the galaxies tug at one another gravitationally.
Astronomers refer to the streams as “Streams.”tidal tails.” When dusty, gas-rich galaxies, such as Arp 248 merge with each other, it is common for the merger to form tails.
The tails are formed from material from the outer spiral discs of merging galaxies. They host active star formation, indicated by blue.
The top image is a result of an observation project that examined two collections galaxies with unusual Halton Arp. Arp, an American astronomer, created the Atlas of Peculiar Galaxies1966
The Atlas contains 338 galaxies that were chosen for their extraordinary shapes. He intended it to showcase the many unique structures galaxies have.
These galaxies are now known to take strange shapes as they interact and may merge. Arp disagreed with this interpretation and claimed that the bizarre forms were due to ejections.
Arp was aware that astronomers were not very well-versed in the changes galaxies undergo over time. He wanted to make it so that they could learn from his observations. AtlasTo study the evolution of the galaxy.
The second collection of galaxies that are unusual in the observing program is called A Catalog of Southern Galaxies and Associations. It was published by Barry Madore, Arp’s colleague. The CatalogThere are 25 types of objects in the galaxy, including galaxies that have tails.
Astronomers have increased their knowledge about galaxy mergers and intergalaxies since the early 1980s. AtlasAnd the CatalogThey were published. We know that galaxy evolution is influenced by mergers.
Astronomers are uncovering more about inter-galaxies as they study them in greater detail. New class of objectsThese are what they call “intergalactic Star-Forming Objects” (ISFOs). ISFOs refer to a wide range of objects that capture the various types that occur when galaxies interact.
ISFOs can be formed by tidal interactions or the ram-sweeping material from intergalactic galaxies. They may also form due to inflows of gas and dust into the tails, or a combination of these processes.
ISFOs can have masses ranging from superstar clusters to what astronomers refer to as “tidal dimming galaxies” or TDGs. Based on the Sloan Digital Sky Survey, a 2012 paper estimated that 6 percent of dwarf galaxies could be tidal origins.
ISFOs are bound gravitationally to galaxies often, but it is not clear how many will stay bound or how long.
Sometimes, material from the tidal flows will flow back into galaxies, which can trigger more star formation. All of this interaction results in the enrichment of interstellar media with dust and metals.
Astronomers think that around 25% of galaxies are merging with each other. According to the Harvard Center for Astrophysics, even more are interfacing gravitationally with each other, if they are merging.
The evidence is in our Milky Way galaxy. It cannibalized stars and gas from the Magellanic Clouds, and even the Sagittarius Dwarf Galaxy. In a few billion years, the Milky Way Galaxy and the Andromeda Galaxy are expected to merge. It is impossible to predict what kind of behemoth could result from this event.
How massive! Black holesThe mystery of how (SMBHs), grow so large is still a topic of open inquiry. Astrophysicists understand that mergers are a part of SMBH growth, but they still don’t know a lot.
This assortment of unusually interacting galaxies were examined by the Hubble Space Telescope’s Advanced Camera for Surveys.
With its other instruments, the Hubble will inspect some of these targets. The James Webb Space Telescope (ALMA) will also be used to examine them. These telescopes are always in high demand so this project will help astronomers better allocate time.
This article was first published by Universe Today. Learn more Original article.
