Closest known galaxy discovered - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

MonarC · 11-04-2003, 03:11 PM

The Canis Major dwarf galaxy is shown here in red. The stars from the victim surround the Milky Way in a vast ring, while a remnant of its heart remains. In this simulation, only a portion of the mass of the Milky Way, much of it in blue, is represented.
===============

By Robert Roy Britt
SPACE.COM

Nov. 4 — A small galaxy has just been detected as it is being ripped apart and swallowed by the much larger Milky Way. The Canis Major dwarf galaxy, as it is now called, is closer to the center of our galaxy than any previously known. The discovery, announced today by an international team of astronomers, is further evidence that the Milky Way has built its bulk by mergers and acquisitions. Researchers described the galaxy as a “dismembered corpse.”

-----------------------

CANIS MAJOR DWARF is, on average, about 25,000 light-years from our solar system and some 42,000 light-years from the center of the Milky Way. This is closer than the previous leader in proximity, the Sagittarius dwarf galaxy, discovered in 1994.
The new galaxy does not look like the Milky Way. Besides containing far fewer stars, it is stretched into a shape quite unbecoming to a regular galaxy. In fact, Canis Major dwarf forms a sort of ring around the Milky Way — a clue to how its being torn apart and swallowed up.
Astronomers found it by detecting several cool, red stars that are otherwise rare in the Milky Way.
“On galactic scales, the Canis Major dwarf galaxy is a lightweight of about only one billion Suns,” said Michele Bellazzini of Bologna Observatory, another member of the team. “This small galaxy is unlikely to hold together much longer. It is being pushed and pulled by the colossal gravity of our Milky Way, which has been progressively stealing its stars and pulling it apart.”
The galactic snack may be adding 1 percent more mass to the Milky Way, the astronomers estimate.
The discovery was made using data from the Two-Micron All Sky Survey (2MASS). The cool stars, previously undetectable through the dust of the Milky Way, shine brightly in infrared light.

“It’s like putting on infrared night-vision goggles,” said Rodrigo Ibata of Strasbourg Observatory. “We are now able to study a part of the Milky Way that has been previously out of sight.”
Like other digested galaxies, the Canis Major dwarf will eventually live on only as individual stars. Despite the violent ripping apart of its structure, the odds of any star actually colliding with another during the merger are very slim, scientists say.
The finding will be published in the Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society.

Kay Scarpetta · 11-04-2003, 06:41 PM

it's so pretty....

musicradio77 · 11-04-2003, 10:43 PM

That's a nice discovery of the galaxy. I know that one very well.

Crimson and Clover · 11-05-2003, 05:18 AM

It is pretty.

Bad_Company · 11-05-2003, 03:42 PM

Cool....the galaxy rocks!!

MonarC · 11-05-2003, 04:45 PM

"The small galaxy has just been detected as it is being ripped apart and swallowed by the much larger Milky Way"

I guess our galaxy got hungry

Kay Scarpetta · 11-05-2003, 10:22 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by BrooklynGuy78
I know that one very well.

... it's just been discovered.

Kitt · 11-06-2003, 02:08 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Miss Karly
... it's just been discovered.

Them Brooklynites really get around, huh Karly?

Kay Scarpetta · 11-06-2003, 09:09 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Kitt
Them Brooklynites really get around, huh Karly?

*shoots self in head* some people...

TJL · 11-06-2003, 09:43 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Miss Karly
... it's just been discovered.

Nobody tells me anything.

HuntingtonM15 · 11-06-2003, 09:45 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Miss Karly
... it's just been discovered.

ABlairican Pie · 11-07-2003, 09:27 AM

When you think of the vastness of space, does it ever make you feel so

small?

MonarC · 11-07-2003, 08:07 PM

yes it makes me feel very small

ABlairican Pie · 11-07-2003, 11:43 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by MonarC
yes it makes me feel very small

But the one thing that makes me really wonder is, is God really out there where there is no human life?? On some cold lonely barren frozen ice cave on a planetoid in the northwest quadrant of the Andromeda Galaxy?? Where no light penetrates and no human has ever been nor ever will be??

TJL · 11-07-2003, 11:46 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Captain ABlairica
Where no light penetrates and no human has ever been nor ever will be??

You've just described my bedroom.

11-04-2003, 03:11 PM	#1
MonarC The truth will set you free Forum Fanatic Join Date: Dec 05, 2002 Location: 3rd Stone From The Sun Posts: 9,525	Closest known galaxy discovered The Canis Major dwarf galaxy is shown here in red. The stars from the victim surround the Milky Way in a vast ring, while a remnant of its heart remains. In this simulation, only a portion of the mass of the Milky Way, much of it in blue, is represented. =============== By Robert Roy Britt SPACE.COM Nov. 4 — A small galaxy has just been detected as it is being ripped apart and swallowed by the much larger Milky Way. The Canis Major dwarf galaxy, as it is now called, is closer to the center of our galaxy than any previously known. The discovery, announced today by an international team of astronomers, is further evidence that the Milky Way has built its bulk by mergers and acquisitions. Researchers described the galaxy as a “dismembered corpse.” ----------------------- CANIS MAJOR DWARF is, on average, about 25,000 light-years from our solar system and some 42,000 light-years from the center of the Milky Way. This is closer than the previous leader in proximity, the Sagittarius dwarf galaxy, discovered in 1994. The new galaxy does not look like the Milky Way. Besides containing far fewer stars, it is stretched into a shape quite unbecoming to a regular galaxy. In fact, Canis Major dwarf forms a sort of ring around the Milky Way — a clue to how its being torn apart and swallowed up. Astronomers found it by detecting several cool, red stars that are otherwise rare in the Milky Way. “On galactic scales, the Canis Major dwarf galaxy is a lightweight of about only one billion Suns,” said Michele Bellazzini of Bologna Observatory, another member of the team. “This small galaxy is unlikely to hold together much longer. It is being pushed and pulled by the colossal gravity of our Milky Way, which has been progressively stealing its stars and pulling it apart.” The galactic snack may be adding 1 percent more mass to the Milky Way, the astronomers estimate. The discovery was made using data from the Two-Micron All Sky Survey (2MASS). The cool stars, previously undetectable through the dust of the Milky Way, shine brightly in infrared light. “It’s like putting on infrared night-vision goggles,” said Rodrigo Ibata of Strasbourg Observatory. “We are now able to study a part of the Milky Way that has been previously out of sight.” Like other digested galaxies, the Canis Major dwarf will eventually live on only as individual stars. Despite the violent ripping apart of its structure, the odds of any star actually colliding with another during the merger are very slim, scientists say. The finding will be published in the Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society. Attached Images

11-04-2003, 06:41 PM	#2
Kay Scarpetta Defy Gravity 8.26.05 Forum Superstar Join Date: Jul 04, 2001 Location: La Vie Boheme Posts: 28,013	it's so pretty....
	__________________ The people who think they know everything about Broadway make me laugh. They've never seen a Broadway play in their life. "oh mi godddd RENT's a mooovie! lyke 525600 minuuuuuuutes!" No. To be a Broadway Freak, you must live, eat, sleep, study, devout, think, obsess, dream, believe Broadway. You must know original & revival casts, soundtracks, performance runs, dates, theatres, numbers, how many Tony Awards A Chorus Line won. You must be Broadway. That's right bitches. I AM Broadway.

11-04-2003, 10:43 PM	#3
musicradio77 Disney Expert Forum Veteran Join Date: Jul 14, 2003 Location: Brooklyn, NY USA Posts: 6,475	That's a nice discovery of the galaxy. I know that one very well.
	__________________ Musicradio77 Productions

11-05-2003, 05:18 AM	#4
Crimson and Clover Member Forum Star Join Date: Jun 09, 2002 Location: NC Posts: 17,345	It is pretty.
	__________________ Friend me: http://www.facebook.com/MaryLynnCall My Etsy shop http://www.etsy.com/shop/MotherMary You'll never find a sweeter combination As peace and love - Mishka

11-05-2003, 03:42 PM	#5
Bad_Company 70s Freak Forum Regular Join Date: Dec 05, 2002 Location: Drinkin' a Lone Star in the Lone Star State Posts: 523	Cool....the galaxy rocks!!
	__________________ "They wanna kill rock n' roll because they know it makes us horny man!" "The three real branches of the government are Military, Corporate, and Hollywood." --------Hyde from That 70s Show ****************************

11-05-2003, 04:45 PM	#6
MonarC The truth will set you free Forum Fanatic Join Date: Dec 05, 2002 Location: 3rd Stone From The Sun Posts: 9,525	"The small galaxy has just been detected as it is being ripped apart and swallowed by the much larger Milky Way" I guess our galaxy got hungry

11-07-2003, 09:27 AM	#12
ABlairican Pie Member Forum Superstar Join Date: Dec 12, 2001 Location: Living where cats reign more Supreme than a pizza. Posts: 31,619	galaxies N' stuff When you think of the vastness of space, does it ever make you feel so small?
	__________________ Release the kitties. --Nathan Explosion

11-07-2003, 08:07 PM	#13
MonarC The truth will set you free Forum Fanatic Join Date: Dec 05, 2002 Location: 3rd Stone From The Sun Posts: 9,525	yes it makes me feel very small