An uncommon elliptical galaxy with a historical past of absorbing smaller galaxies seems to be approaching its subsequent goal.
New photographs from the Very Giant Telescope (VLT) on the European Southern Observatory’s (ESO) Paranal Observatory counsel that the galaxy, referred to as NGC 3640, might quickly merge with a smaller galactic companion. Situated 88 million light-years from Earth, NGC 3640 belongs to a bunch of galaxies that vary in form and measurement, together with its personal uncommon oval or egg form.
The VLT photographs revealed that NGC 3640 has eaten different galaxies over the previous a number of billion years and a smaller neighbor, referred to as NGC 3641, now lies inside its path. Situated just under NGC 3640 within the current picture, NGC 3641 might ultimately be the bigger galaxy’s subsequent meal.
“All through their extraordinarily lengthy lifetime, galaxies change. As they soar by area, they could steal gasoline and stars from different galaxies, and even engulf and merge with them,” ESO officers mentioned in a statement accompanying the brand new picture. “After these occasions, galaxies can develop into distorted, as exemplified by the misshaped NGC 3640 and the diffuse mild round it.”
As two galaxies method one another, their gravitational pulls develop into more and more robust, inflicting them to ultimately collide and merge right into a single, bigger galaxy. This, in flip, disrupts the unique buildings of each galaxies.
Fortunately, NGC 3641 should have a while earlier than it’s consumed by its bigger neighbor. The current VLT photographs don’t present any indicators of NGC 3641 being distorted by the approaching galaxy, suggesting NGC 3640 will not be but shut sufficient to pose a menace.
Utilizing the brand new VLT photographs, astronomers on the Italian Nationwide Institute for Astrophysics had been capable of parse out NGC 3640’s previous. A collision between two galaxies leaves “scars” on the surviving cosmic physique, which usually incorporates a number of the first stars created throughout the authentic galaxy.
Due to this fact, these stars function “fossil markers” of the unique galaxy’s previous, which is how the staff decided NGC 3640 has beforehand engulfed different galaxies, in keeping with the assertion.
Their findings had been published Nov. 5, 2024 within the journal Astronomy & Astrophysics.
