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Just a quick note regarding the non-planar nature of M31. A sequence of images at various depths, showing the various changes (twists or bends) in the position angle of this galaxy, at various galactocentric radii, can be found in my recent thread in the "Astronomy and Amateur Science" forum.
As per that thread, I noted that F.Schweizer reported a disk-bulge misalignment of 10 degrees....is this plausible?
Yes, M31 is definitely a peculiar galaxy.....it is distinctly unusual compared to most spirals of a similar Hubble type!
Note added in a later edit:
The Andromeda Galaxy has now been observed at "most every wavelength". I intend to present a multi-wavelength imaging view of this unusual galaxy in the "Astronomy and Amateur Science" section.
Interestingly, perhaps the most informative image, a high resolution Near-infrared image, was only made recently in an MSc thesis by Jonathan N. Sick of Queens University (canada). Together with the WISE satellite images in the NIR, it clearly shows that even the massive "backbone" of old stars within M31 is disturbed.
Last edited by madbadgalaxyman; 17-10-2011 at 09:08 AM.
Reason: more info
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