The following from APOPD: Please Register or Log in to view the hidden image! How did spiral galaxy ESO 510-13 get bent out of shape? The disks of many spirals are thin and flat, but not solid. Spiral disks are loose conglomerations of billions of stars and diffuse gas all gravitationally orbiting a galaxy center. A flat disk is thought to be created by sticky collisions of large gas clouds early in the galaxy's formation. Warped disks are not uncommon, though, and even our own Milky Way Galaxy is thought to have a small warp. The causes of spiral warps are still being investigated, but some warps are thought to result from interactions or even collisions between galaxies. ESO 510-13, pictured above, is about 150 million light years away and about 100,000 light years across So how about it? Any theories or old speculations on this?
Wow Hi Wet1, The only thing I can speculate on at the moment is .... what a giant screen you must be looking at if you can completely fit that picture on it. I want one too! Please Register or Log in to view the hidden image! Bye! Crisp
Oh well. I talk from experience... A warped galaxy is a nasty thing, that is the main reason why I left Andromeda. Things were just getting out of control. The timezones totally got mixed up and a person could actually end up taking care of their grandfathers, as babies... Please Register or Log in to view the hidden image!
GREAT !!!!! Mucho thanks, wet1! The last time I was out in that neck of the woods ... Woods? ... Hell, you know what I mean ... I was a bit pressed by time etc. so I couldn't get a really decent look at it. Better than making the trip again!
Hi, Sphinx321 ... Take a look here http://spaceflightnow.com/index.html for the rundown (down about mid-page)
Above the left side of the galaxy there is an extremely bright star? Could that be a supernova? Please Register or Log in to view the hidden image!
Alas it is not a supernova. I went back to the source and with a smaller picture it is readily evident that it is not.
How do you know it's not a supernova Wet1 How the hell did you fit that picture onto this forum? My poor PC took ages to download it. What are you doing to us? Just kidding. It's a really cool picture. How is everyone?
My video card went on the blink and as you see I got it working again! I can supply a smaller picture which will load faster and remove this one. I think I shall as you are the second to mention size. It might be of interest that while researching for the answer to the supernova question I found other data. It seems this galaxiy is in the process of gobbling up another. When this happens usually the galaxies both are distorted into unrecognizable forms compared to their original shapes. This also sprawns star birthing activity in the wake of such collisions.
