So Thin Galaxy

[astroron (Ron)]

Why is this galaxy so thin
http://www.abc.net.au/science/articl...15/3066454.htm
An amazing image from The Hubble Space Telescope

[CraigS]

G'Day Ron;

Interesting photo.

The ABC article referred to Phil Plait's blog site which contains some very interesting words:

Note added later: It occurs to me there might be dust in the galaxy despite what I say in the next paragraph. That's because dust doesn't show up in the infrared very well, and one of the filters used was IR (as I note in a following paragraph). Also, the kind of camera used isn't as sensitive in the blue as it is in the IR, so that might also suppress seeing any dust that might be there. So take the next paragraph with -- haha -- a grain of salt.

In the recent Hartley comet thread, I've learned to look very carefully at how these images are taken. This one was taken by the Hubble IR set-up.

If there was dust in the galaxy would it be visible in this photo ?

Perhaps not, according to Plait.

If it did have dust surrounding the galaxy, would it really be so thin ?

Cheers
PS: I'm a bit of a Plait fan … I find him to be reassuringly honest. Which is great when he comments on releases .. one tends to get a more unbiased perspective on all this media stuff by checking out what he has to say !!

[astroron (Ron)]

Thanks Craig, I am always grateful for your digging below the surface of these articles
You tease out things that some of us don't pick up or follow up
Cheers

[CraigS]

Originally Posted by astroron

Thanks Craig, I am always grateful for your digging below the surface of these articles
You tease out things that some of us don't pick up or follow up
Cheers

Hey Ron;
(I was starting to think I was just a grump !!)

But it is amazing how these scientist types can make so much from remote images.

There really is a big difference between what us Amateurs would tend to do with an image, and what these guys are doing with them. There's clearly a lot to consider when they analyse an image … not the least of which, is a very deep understanding of the sensing technologies and balancing this against the current theories behind the technology AND the object they're analysing.

Its really difficult for us Amateurs to make informed opinions/statements about what the 'imagery evidence' is saying. I feel that all we can really do, is to keep track of the status of their deliberations, and try to separate their more justified statements from their speculative ones.

Keeping up with either of these elements is not a trivial exercise for us, either !

Cheers & Rgds

[astroron (Ron)]

Originally Posted by CraigS

Hey Ron;
(I was starting to think I was just a grump !!)

But it is amazing how these scientist types can make so much from remote images.

There really is a big difference between what us Amateurs would tend to do with an image, and what these guys are doing with them. There's clearly a lot to consider when they analyse an image … not the least of which, is a very deep understanding of the sensing technologies and balancing this against the current theories behind the technology AND the object they're analysing.

Its really difficult for us Amateurs to make informed opinions/statements about what the 'imagery evidence' is saying. I feel that all we can really do, is to keep track of the status of their deliberations, and try to separate their more justified statements from their speculative ones.

Keeping up with either of these elements is not a trivial exercise for us, either !

Cheers & Rgds

Craig, I have followed up on the Phil Plait article and I can see where you are coming from
I have often thought that a lot of scientist fudge the facts to fit the puzzle
also a lot is lost in the translation between the statement put out by the issuer of the article
Regards

[mental4astro (Alexander)]

The photo seems to hint at the galaxy having a massive halo enveloping the disk too, with the right side tending to lift up. Tends to suggest a big tidal influence to displace so much material.

Eliptical galaxies also tend not to show dust amungst their mass. Spiral galaxies can also be very dusty too, and fat- look at Centuraus A.

Might not this 'thin' galaxy be a highly flattened eliptical galaxy, as it is described as lenticular, to me, suggesting no obvious arms that defines a spiral galaxy?

[CraigS]

G'Day Alex;

Its interesting … I don't think you could rule out a barred galaxy or spiral barred shapes either.

So, it could be elliptical, barred, barred spiral, etc, etc ..

The thing that I get from this, is re-assurance of the amazing diversity that's out there.

I was just reading up on the new mini-black hole that Chandra has photographed, the mysterious 'bubble' they've photographed extending either side of the Milky Way, (and there are several others which have appeared lately).

It seems to me that with each new space based scope we get up there, and with every new and improved ground based technology, we start discovering more exceptions to the 'rule'.

The 'Golden Age' of Astronomy, eh ??

Imagine the discoveries that could happen if we could get another angle on these distant galaxies ? (Ie: other than Earth's frame of reference ?)

Cheers

[Suzy]

Gosh, almost looks like I could get a paper cut from it, it's that thin .
I sure would like to know what's going on in the centre of it.

Originally Posted by astroron

Thanks Craig, I am always grateful for your digging below the surface of these articles
You tease out things that some of us don't pick up or follow up
Cheers

Everything Ron said and my two cents worth....

Where would we be without Craig?!!!
He is a tireless worker in helping to make the science section an interesting one (not forgetting to mention Stephen & Carl either for all their tremendous input of course).

Each time new information comes through, our Craig is on to it. His enthusiasm is always fresh and he shows so much generosity in helping people to understand, and in doing so unfortunately sometimes he gets a bit of flack thrown his way. But Craig, despite it, you always handle yourself and others with great dignity and respect. A trait you should be very proud to own. Thank goodness he has a layer of thick skin, because we need him around here.

He is the backbone of this science forum and one of the nicest, most decent people I have ever had the pleasure of knowing.

[CraigS]

(Its all me !)

[Suzy]

That's the most amount of emoticons I've ever seen Craig use.

[sjastro]

Craig for PM.

Steven

[Suzy]

Aplogies Mr Moderators for going slightly off topic, but sometimes we just need to stop, and take a look around and give some credit where it's due. I'm sure you'll understand.

[astroron (Ron)]

Originally Posted by Suzy

Gosh, almost looks like I could get a paper cut from it, it's that thin .
I sure would like to know what's going on in the centre of it.


Everything Ron said and my two cents worth....

Where would we be without Craig?!!!
He is a tireless worker in helping to make the science section an interesting one (not forgetting to mention Stephen & Carl either for all their tremendous input of course).

Each time new information comes through, our Craig is on to it. His enthusiasm is always fresh and he shows so much generosity in helping people to understand, and in doing so unfortunately sometimes he gets a bit of flack thrown his way. But Craig, despite it, you always handle yourself and others with great dignity and respect. A trait you should be very proud to own. Thank goodness he has a layer of thick skin, because we need him around here.

He is the backbone of this science forum and one of the nicest, most decent people I have ever had the pleasure of knowing.

What did I start,I agree whole heartedly with Suzy's post but Credit goes where Credit is due
Thanks again Craig

[ballaratdragons (Ken)]

Look at all the Galaxies in the background!

Drooooool I'm in Love

[CraigS]

According to Phil Plait:

The picture of NGC 4452 is a short exposure; just a combination of 12.5 minutes using a blue filter and 20 using an infrared one. This means the sky is filled with galaxies!
And each one is an island Universe, made of billions of stars along with massive gas and dust clouds, and each as spectacular and amazing as this one seen up close.

Cheers

[astroron (Ron)]

Craig, it does seem to have a rather large halo,so maybe images taken in a different light may give us more information about this galaxy
It is a nice image anyway for a 12 minute shot

[CraigS]

Wouldn't it be great to have scope that could take photos like this over such a short period, eh Ron ?


Could capture quite a bit …. in between downpours, that is !!


Cheers

[that_guy (Tony)]

i can just see myself trying to get that with my ed80 that would be a fail LOL!!!