Kiso_5639

Kiso 5639

Kiso 5639

Dwarf galaxy in Ursa Major

Kiso 5639 (also known as LEDA 36252, KUG 1138+327 or the Skyrocket Galaxy) is an irregular dwarf galaxy in the constellation Ursa Major, approximately 85 million light-years from Earth.[1] It has an elongated and flattened shape, with a maximum diameter that extends for approximately 2,700 light years.[2] The new stars are distributed in about ten groups and have a mass corresponding to about one million solar masses. This intense activity also corresponds to the presence of areas in which the matter is rarefied, which were probably formed following a combination of stellar winds and supernovae explosions.[3] The starburst of the galaxy is believed to have occurred around one million years ago.[4]

Quick Facts Observation data (J2000 epoch), Constellation ...

Etymology

Kiso 5639 has been referred to the, Skyrocket Galaxy, which is informally named as such due to it being described as a "July 4th skyrocket" by NASA.[5] It has also been informally called the Rocket Galaxy due to its "trail" structure and brightness at the head.[6][7]

Morphology

Kiso 5639 has an extremely irregular shape. At the head is an intense concentration of stars compared to the rest of the galaxy,[8] such that it takes on that resembles that of a tadpole.[9] This area of high intensity is determined by the presence of abundant concentrations of hydrogen gas and intense star formation activity.[4] The galaxy has an elongated and flattened "pancake"[10] shape, with a maximum diameter that extends for approximately 2,700 light years.[2]

Discovery

Kiso 5639 was discovered in 2004 using the Hubble Space Telescope, and was further observed in February and July of 2015 with the Wide Field Camera 3.[6]

Star formation

Faint areas of star formation are present in other parts of the galaxy, with stellar elements ranging in age from several million to a few billion years.[5] These data were collected from observations made by the Hubble Space Telescope during 2015 and were published in The Astrophysical Journal.[11] The starburst is believed to have begun approximately one million years ago following the galaxies' encounter with a filament of intergalactic gas.[4] The new stars in the galaxy are distributed in about ten groups and have a mass corresponding to about one million solar masses.[citation needed]

As seen in false color by the HST.

See also

References

  1. [1]
    Almeida, J. Sanchez; Munoz-Tunon, C.; Elmegreen, D. M.; Elmegreen, B. G.; Mendez-Abreu, J. (2013-03-26). "Local tadpole galaxies: dynamics and metallicity". The Astrophysical Journal. 767 (1): 74. arXiv:1302.4352. Bibcode:2013ApJ...767...74S. doi:10.1088/0004-637X/767/1/74. ISSN 0004-637X.
  2. [2]
    "Hubble Reveals Stellar Fireworks in 'Skyrocket' Galaxy - NASA Science". science.nasa.gov. Retrieved 2024-04-18.
  3. [3]
    Elmegreen, Debra Meloy; Elmegreen, Bruce G.; Almeida, Jorge Sanchez; Munoz-Tunon, Casiana; Mendez-Abreu, Jairo; Gallagher, John S.; Rafelski, Marc; Filho, Mercedes; Ceverino, Daniel (2016-07-10). "Hubble Space Telescope Observations of Accretion-Induced Star Formation in the Tadpole Galaxy Kiso 5639". The Astrophysical Journal. 825 (2): 145. arXiv:1605.02822. Bibcode:2016ApJ...825..145E. doi:10.3847/0004-637X/825/2/145. ISSN 0004-637X.
  4. [4]
    "KISO 5639 Tadpole Galaxy". EurekAlert!. Retrieved 2024-04-17.
  5. [5]
    "Hubble Reveals Stellar Fireworks in 'Skyrocket' Galaxy". science.nasa.gov. Retrieved 2024-04-17.
  6. [6]
    "Hubble Reveals Stellar Fireworks in 'Skyrocket' Galaxy - NASA Science". science.nasa.gov. Retrieved 2024-04-18.
  7. [7]
    Elmegreen, Debra Meloy; Elmegreen, Bruce G.; Sánchez Almeida, Jorge; Muñoz-Tuñón, Casiana; Mendez-Abreu, Jairo; Gallagher, John S.; Rafelski, Marc; Filho, Mercedes; Ceverino, Daniel (2016-07-01). "Hubble Space Telescope Observations of Accretion-Induced Star Formation in the Tadpole Galaxy Kiso 5639". The Astrophysical Journal. 825 (2): 145. arXiv:1605.02822. Bibcode:2016ApJ...825..145E. doi:10.3847/0004-637X/825/2/145. ISSN 0004-637X.
  8. [8]
    Wall, Mike (2016-07-04). "Cosmic fireworks: Hubble snaps stunning photo of "skyrocket" galaxy - CBS News". www.cbsnews.com. Retrieved 2024-04-19.
  9. [9]
    Now, Astronomy. "Kiso 5639 – Astronomy Now". Retrieved 2024-04-18.
  10. [10]
    Plait, Phil (2016-07-03). "A Cosmic Tadpole Swims Into Hubble's View". Slate. ISSN 1091-2339. Retrieved 2024-04-18.
  11. [11]
    "Kiso 5639: Hubble Space Telescope Photographs Cosmic Tadpole | Sci.News". Sci.News: Breaking Science News. 2016-06-29. Retrieved 2024-04-17.

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