Galaxies

Galaxies A galaxy is a huge region of space that contains hundreds of billions of stars, planets, glowing nebulae, dust, empty space, and possibly black holes. A galaxy is a huge region of space that contains hundreds of billions of stars, planets, glowing nebulae, dust, empty space, and possibly black holes. Galaxies began when large clouds of gas and dust started to shrink as a result of their gravity. Galaxies began when large clouds of gas and dust started to shrink as a result of their gravity.

Galaxies Galaxies are held together by gravity. Galaxies are held together by gravity. According to Hubble’s Law, galaxies are moving away from one another. According to Hubble’s Law, galaxies are moving away from one another. 100 billion or so exist in the universe. 100 billion or so exist in the universe.

Shapes of Galaxies Hubble categorized these shapes or basic schemes of galaxies: Hubble categorized these shapes or basic schemes of galaxies: 1. Spiral 2. Elliptical (nearly circular) 3. Irregular

Spiral Galaxies Arms tightly wound around galaxy, like a pinwheel Arms tightly wound around galaxy, like a pinwheel A group of objects in center (stars and possibly a black hole) A group of objects in center (stars and possibly a black hole) Surrounded by a halo and an invisible cloud of matter. Surrounded by a halo and an invisible cloud of matter.

Spiral Galaxies Rotating – which forms arms Rotating – which forms arms May lose arms and become elliptical May lose arms and become elliptical Examples: Milky Way and Andromeda Galaxies Examples: Milky Way and Andromeda Galaxies

Spiral Galaxies

Elliptical Galaxies Can be round, oval, flattened or spherical Can be round, oval, flattened or spherical Resembles the nucleus of a spiral galaxy without the arms Resembles the nucleus of a spiral galaxy without the arms Very little gas or dust Very little gas or dust

Elliptical Galaxies Mostly older stars Mostly older stars Collect into globular clusters Collect into globular clusters Examples: Maffei 1, M32 Examples: Maffei 1, M32

Elliptical Galaxies

Irregular Galaxies Neither spiral or elliptical Neither spiral or elliptical Disk, but no spiral arms Disk, but no spiral arms Caused by the formation of new stars in the galaxy or by the pull of neighboring gravitational fields Caused by the formation of new stars in the galaxy or by the pull of neighboring gravitational fields

Irregular Galaxies In some irregular galaxies one can see individual stars, nebulae, and clusters In some irregular galaxies one can see individual stars, nebulae, and clusters Mixture of old and new stars Mixture of old and new stars Large amounts of gas and dust Large amounts of gas and dust Examples: Large and Small Magellanic Clouds Examples: Large and Small Magellanic Clouds

Irregular Galaxies

Barred Spiral Galaxies Spirals with bright bar of gas down center. Spirals with bright bar of gas down center.

Lenticular Galaxies Consists of bulge and disk with little or no new star formation. Consists of bulge and disk with little or no new star formation. Example: Spindle Galaxy Example: Spindle Galaxy

Parts of a Galaxy The galaxy is made up of two visible components: The galaxy is made up of two visible components: 1. Disk 2. Bulge

Parts of a Galaxy – The Disk Contains clouds of gas and dust called nebulae Contains clouds of gas and dust called nebulae In a spiral galaxy, most stars are in the disk In a spiral galaxy, most stars are in the disk Open Cluster (Galactic Clusters) are younger, asymmetric groups of stars. Open Cluster (Galactic Clusters) are younger, asymmetric groups of stars.

Parts of a Galaxy – The Disk An example of a galactic cluster is Pleiades (M45) An example of a galactic cluster is Pleiades (M45)

Parts of a Galaxy - Bulge A large squashed sphere surrounding the galaxy’s center A large squashed sphere surrounding the galaxy’s center Contains older stars Contains older stars Not very much gas or dust Not very much gas or dust One fifth of the total light comes from the bulge One fifth of the total light comes from the bulge

Parts of a Galaxy - Bulge The bulge can be used to determine the age of the galaxy The bulge can be used to determine the age of the galaxy Above and around the bulge are globular clusters – hundreds of thousands of stars bound in a tight spherical swarm Above and around the bulge are globular clusters – hundreds of thousands of stars bound in a tight spherical swarm

Parts of a Galaxy - Bulge An example of a globular cluster is M13 (Hercules Globular Cluster) An example of a globular cluster is M13 (Hercules Globular Cluster)

The Milky Way Galaxy Over 100 billion stars and possibly a black hole in the center. Over 100 billion stars and possibly a black hole in the center. Has star clusters, planets, glowing nebulae, dust and empty space. Has star clusters, planets, glowing nebulae, dust and empty space. Older stars and globular cluster near the center Older stars and globular cluster near the center

The Milky Way Galaxy Younger stars and galactic clusters in disk Younger stars and galactic clusters in disk One hundred thousand (100,000) light years in diameter. Ten thousand (10,000) light years thick One hundred thousand (100,000) light years in diameter. Ten thousand (10,000) light years thick Our solar system is located on the Orion Arm – 30,000 light years from the center. Our solar system is located on the Orion Arm – 30,000 light years from the center.

The Milky Way Galaxy Part of the Local Group of galaxies with 30 others. (Andromeda is also part of this group) Part of the Local Group of galaxies with 30 others. (Andromeda is also part of this group) Astronomers use radio and infrared telescopes to “see” the center of the galaxy Astronomers use radio and infrared telescopes to “see” the center of the galaxy We can’t actually “see” the center of the galaxy because of dust and gas! We can’t actually “see” the center of the galaxy because of dust and gas!

The Milky Way Galaxy The Milky Way is getting larger because it is “eating” the Large Magellanic Cloud. Its stars are being added to the Milky Way. The Milky Way is getting larger because it is “eating” the Large Magellanic Cloud. Its stars are being added to the Milky Way. The Milky Way is falling toward the Andromeda Galaxy and both are feeling the tug of the great Virgo Cluster, which is 50 million light years away. The Milky Way is falling toward the Andromeda Galaxy and both are feeling the tug of the great Virgo Cluster, which is 50 million light years away.

Virgo Cluster

The Milky Way Galaxy

Andromeda Galaxy (M31) Can only be seen by astronomers in the Northern hemisphere Can only be seen by astronomers in the Northern hemisphere 2.2 million light years away 2.2 million light years away Can see without a telescope, appears as a faint fuzzy patch Can see without a telescope, appears as a faint fuzzy patch About the same size as the Milky Way About the same size as the Milky Way Two times more massive than the Milky Way Two times more massive than the Milky Way

Andromeda Galaxy

Large and Small Magellanic Clouds Can only be seen by astronomers in the Southern Hemisphere Can only be seen by astronomers in the Southern Hemisphere The two closest galaxies to the Milky Way (Less than 200,000 light years away) The two closest galaxies to the Milky Way (Less than 200,000 light years away) Visible to the naked eye Visible to the naked eye

Large and Small Magellanic Clouds Relatively small and irregular in shape Relatively small and irregular in shape Only five percent of the mass of the Milky Way Only five percent of the mass of the Milky Way Large Magellanic is being “eaten” by the Milky Way Large Magellanic is being “eaten” by the Milky Way

Large Magellanic Clouds

Small Magellanic Clouds

Messier Catalog System Charles Messier was looking for comets. Charles Messier was looking for comets. Made a list of star clusters, galaxies and nebula so that he would not mistake them for comets. Made a list of star clusters, galaxies and nebula so that he would not mistake them for comets. Listed 110 objects, including 32 galaxies by Listed 110 objects, including 32 galaxies by Andromeda – M31 Andromeda – M31