The Hubble Space Telescope has captured the unique galaxy system Arp-Madore 2105-332 in the constellation of Microscopium. This system is distinguished by its emission-line galaxies, which are indicative of active star formation. Featured in the Hubble Picture of the Week, the galaxies are identified by astronomical coordinates. The image is credited to ESA/Hubble & NASA, J. Dalcanton, with acknowledgment to L. Shatz.
Situated 200 million light-years away, Arp-Madore 2105-332 consists of unusual galaxies characterized by emission lines, a sign of ongoing star creation, as observed by Hubble.
The photograph showcases Arp-Madore 2105-332, an interactive galaxy system approximately 200 million light-years distant in the Microscopium constellation. As part of the recent Hubble Pictures of the Week, this system is included in the Arp-Madore catalogue of peculiar galaxies.
This image’s exceptional clarity also exposes additional galaxies. These galaxies, while not part of Arp-Madore 2105-332, are aligned in a way that they appear to form a line leading towards the system’s leftmost galaxy, individually identified as 2MASX J21080752-3314337. The rightmost galaxy in the system is named 2MASX J21080362-3313196. These complex names are more than just labels; they contain important information, representing coordinates in the right ascension and declination system, a method commonly used by astronomers to pinpoint celestial bodies.
Both galaxies are classified as emission-line galaxies. This classification is based on their spectra, which, when analyzed using spectrometers, show bright peaks or emission lines. This differs from absorption-line galaxies, which exhibit gaps or absorption lines in their spectra. Emission lines are a result of gases being heated to very high temperatures, causing atoms and molecules to become ‘excited’ and emit light. Therefore, emission-line galaxies are typically energetic environments, often sites of vigorous star formation.
Classifying a galaxy as an emission-line galaxy does not preclude it from being categorized differently based on other characteristics. For instance, Arp-Madore 2105-332 is also considered a ‘peculiar’ galaxy, a term that describes the unusual shapes of its component galaxies.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Arp-Madore 2105-332 Galaxy System
What is the Arp-Madore 2105-332 galaxy system?
Arp-Madore 2105-332 is a unique galaxy system located in the Microscopium constellation, captured by the Hubble Space Telescope. It is notable for its peculiar, emission-line galaxies that are actively forming stars. The system is about 200 million light-years away from Earth and features in the Hubble Picture of the Week. The galaxies within this system are identified using astronomical coordinates.
Why are the galaxies in Arp-Madore 2105-332 described as ’emission-line’ galaxies?
Galaxies in the Arp-Madore 2105-332 system are described as ’emission-line’ galaxies because their spectra, observed using spectrometers, exhibit bright peaks known as emission lines. These lines indicate that the galaxies contain very hot gases, causing atoms and molecules to emit light. This is a characteristic of highly energetic environments and is a strong indicator of active star formation.
How are the galaxies in Arp-Madore 2105-332 named and identified?
The galaxies in the Arp-Madore 2105-332 system are named and identified using the right ascension and declination system, a coordinate system widely used in astronomy. This system allows for the precise location of celestial objects. The names, such as 2MASX J21080752-3314337, are not just random labels but represent specific coordinates in space.
What makes Arp-Madore 2105-332 a ‘peculiar’ galaxy system?
Arp-Madore 2105-332 is classified as a ‘peculiar’ galaxy system due to the atypical shapes of its constituent galaxies. This classification is part of the Arp-Madore catalog of peculiar galaxies, which includes galaxies with unusual forms or interactions. The peculiar nature often results from gravitational interactions and can lead to unique and interesting formations within the galaxies.
More about Arp-Madore 2105-332 Galaxy System
- Hubble Space Telescope Official Site
- ESA/Hubble Images Gallery
- NASA’s Galaxy Evolution Explorer
- Right Ascension and Declination Explained
- Introduction to Emission-Line Galaxies
- Arp-Madore Catalog of Peculiar Galaxies
- Understanding Star Formation in Galaxies
- Astronomy: The Constellation Microscopium
- Spectrometry in Astronomy
- Galaxy Interactions and Morphology
4 comments
really like how this piece highlights the peculiar nature of the galaxy system, but maybe more info on the actual process of star formation would make it perfect
hubble’s pictures are always stunning but this one’s really something else, kinda wish the article had more images or maybe a link to an image gallery?
I think theres a typo in the distance, it should be light years not just years, otherwise great job explaining the emission lines in these galaxies.
wow, this article is amazing love how it details the galaxies in Arp-Madore 2105-332? Hubble telescope always brings us such cool stuff!