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MOST BIZARRE GALAXIES IN THE UNIVERSE

Added on: 28th Aug 2016

 

 

MESSIER 82

Messier 82

Messier 82 known as M82, this galaxy is five times brighter than the

entire Milky Way due to the rapid birth of young stars, a rate

10 times greater than inside our own galaxy. Over time, stars

will be created so quickly they will devour each other.

(The red plumes coming out from the centre are glowing

hydrogen gas being ejected from M82’s centre.)

 

 

SUNFLOWER GALAXY

Messier-63 A galactic sunflower

Formally known as Messier 63, the aptly nicknamed Sunflower

Galaxy looks as though it belongs in Vincent Van Gogh’s

repertoire. This cosmic beauty boasts bright, winding arms

made up of newly formed blue-white giant stars. Just as

with this sunflower design, galaxies are also known for

mimicking natural designs such as whirlpools and arms.

 

 

MACS J0717

macs j0717

MACS J0717 is one of the strangest (astronomically-speaking)

galaxies on this list. Technically a galaxy cluster, MACS J0717

was formed by the collision of four other galaxies. A stream of

galaxies, gas, and dark matter over 13 million light years long

are colliding in an area already dense with matter, creating

fascinating images for us to see.

 

 

MESSIER 74

Messier 74

If Santa Claus has a favourite galaxy, it would be this one.

Messier 74 is often talked about by astronomers around

Christmas time since the spiral arms’ clusters of young blue

stars and the bright, glowing balls of ionized hydrogen

make it look like a Christmas wreath.

 

 

BABY BOOM GALAXY

baby boom galaxy

A starburst galaxy about 12.2 billion light years away from

Earth, the Baby Boom Galaxy was discovered in 2008. The

aptly named galaxy takes the cake as the brightest starburst

galaxy in the very distant universe, thanks to its incredibly

rapid star formation, a rate of one star about every 2 hours.

In contrast, our Milky Way Galaxy produces a new star on

average once every 36 days.

 

 

MILKY WAY GALAXY

Milky_Way

Our own Milky Way Galaxy is indeed one of the strangest

galaxies in the universe, one of the most impressive too;

and that’s not just us feeling proud. Our massive galaxy is

home to at least 100 billion planets and up to a trillion stars,

some of which are among the oldest in the known universe.

 

 

IDCS 1426

IDCS 1426

The galaxy cluster IDCS 1426 boasts multiple accolades.

Observed by scientists when the universe was less than a

third of its age today, IDCS 1426 is the most massive galaxy

cluster in the early universe. It also weighs nearly 500 trillion

Suns, a number that’s pretty hard for us to realistically

imagine. The bright, blue core of gas is the result of galactic

collision, sloshing around much as wine would slosh around

in a sommelier’s glass before settling.

 

 

I ZWICKY 18

I_Zwicky_18a

The galaxy I Zwicky 18 has a host of titles as a starburst galaxy,

blue compact galaxy, dwarf irregular galaxy, and one of the

strangest galaxies in the universe. Astronomers are still

confused by this galaxy which shows star development typical

of galaxy formation from the earliest days of the universe.

(It’s also strange that a large amount of ionized helium is

present, making scientists wonder what is emitting radiation

strong enough to kick electrons off their helium atoms.)

 

 

NGC 6744

Wide_Field_Imager_view_of_a_Milky_Way_look-alike_NGC_6744

NGC 6744 is a large spiral galaxy which astronomers believe

is one of the most similar to our own. Located about 30 million

light years away, the galaxy’s elongated core and puffy arms

are quite reminiscent of our Milky Way.

 


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