Pegasus Dwarf Irregular Galaxy

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Pegasus Dwarf Irregular Galaxy
Pegasus Dwarf-DDO216-starhopper.jpg
Pegasus Dwarf Irregular Galaxy (Pegasus Dwarf), DDO 216, UGC12613
Observation data (J2000 epoch)
Constellation Pegasus
Right ascension 23h 28m 36.2s [1]
Declination +14° 44 35 [1]
Redshift −183 ± 0 km/s [1]
Distance 3.0 ± 0.1 Mly (920 ± 30 kpc) [2]
Apparent magnitude  (V)13.2 [1]
Characteristics
Type dIrr/dSph [1] [a]
Apparent size  (V)5.0 × 2.7 [1]
Other designations
UGC 12613, [1] PGC 71538, [1] DDO 216, [1] Pegasus Dwarf, [1] PegDIG [1]

The Pegasus Dwarf Irregular Galaxy (also known as Peg DIG or the Pegasus Dwarf) is a dwarf irregular galaxy in the direction of the constellation Pegasus. It was discovered by A. G. Wilson in the 1950s. The Pegasus Dwarf is a companion of the Andromeda Galaxy in the Local Group.

Contents

General information

In 1975 Tully & Fisher determined that it was part of the Local Group. [3] The metallicity and the related distance estimate has been subject to discussions in the scientific literature, with varying results; however, recently, by use of the tip of the red-giant branch, a distance within 10% error was achieved in 2000 [4] [5] and then improved to 3% in 2005. [2]

Location of Pegasus Dwarf in the Local Group. Local Group.svg
Location of Pegasus Dwarf in the Local Group.

The science fiction television series Stargate Atlantis takes place in the "Pegasus galaxy" and has shown images of an irregular galaxy. However, the franchise has not explicitly stated if it is the Irregular, Spheroidal, or an entirely fictional location, [6] but since the series claimed the Pegasus galaxy to be 3 million light years away, it is likely the irregular one.

See also

Notes

  1. ^ NED gives the galaxy classification as both dIrr and dSph, which means that it is a transitory between dwarf irregular and dwarf spheroidal. It is noted as transitory in Cole et al. 1999. [7]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Local Group</span> Group of galaxies that includes the Milky Way

The Local Group is the galaxy group that includes the Milky Way, where Earth is located. It has a total diameter of roughly 3 megaparsecs (10 million light-years; 9×1019 kilometres), and a total mass of the order of 2×1012 solar masses (4×1042 kg). It consists of two collections of galaxies in a "dumbbell" shape; the Milky Way and its satellites form one lobe, and the Andromeda Galaxy and its satellites constitute the other. The two collections are separated by about 800 kiloparsecs (3×10^6 ly; 2×1019 km) and are moving toward one another with a velocity of 123 km/s. The group itself is a part of the larger Virgo Supercluster, which may be a part of the Laniakea Supercluster. The exact number of galaxies in the Local Group is unknown as some are occluded by the Milky Way; however, at least 80 members are known, most of which are dwarf galaxies.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sagittarius Dwarf Spheroidal Galaxy</span> Satellite galaxy of the Milky Way

The Sagittarius Dwarf Spheroidal Galaxy (Sgr dSph), also known as the Sagittarius Dwarf Elliptical Galaxy, is an elliptical loop-shaped satellite galaxy of the Milky Way. It contains four globular clusters in its main body, with the brightest of them—NGC 6715 (M54)—being known well before the discovery of the galaxy itself in 1994. Sgr dSph is roughly 10,000 light-years in diameter, and is currently about 70,000 light-years from Earth, travelling in a polar orbit at a distance of about 50,000 light-years from the core of the Milky Way. In its looping, spiraling path, it has passed through the plane of the Milky Way several times in the past. In 2018 the Gaia project of the European Space Agency showed that Sgr dSph had caused perturbations in a set of stars near the Milky Way's core, causing unexpected rippling movements of the stars triggered when it moved past the Milky Way between 300 and 900 million years ago.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pegasus Dwarf Spheroidal Galaxy</span> Dwarf spheroidal galaxy in the constellation Pegasus

The Pegasus Dwarf Spheroidal is a dwarf spheroidal galaxy about 2.7 million light-years away in the constellation Pegasus. The Pegasus Dwarf is a member of the Local Group and a satellite galaxy of the Andromeda Galaxy (M31).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dwarf galaxy</span> Small galaxy composed of up to several billion stars

A dwarf galaxy is a small galaxy composed of about 1000 up to several billion stars, as compared to the Milky Way's 200–400 billion stars. The Large Magellanic Cloud, which closely orbits the Milky Way and contains over 30 billion stars, is sometimes classified as a dwarf galaxy; others consider it a full-fledged galaxy. Dwarf galaxies' formation and activity are thought to be heavily influenced by interactions with larger galaxies. Astronomers identify numerous types of dwarf galaxies, based on their shape and composition.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dwarf spheroidal galaxy</span> Low-luminosity galaxy of old stars & little dust

A dwarf spheroidal galaxy (dSph) is a term in astronomy applied to small, low-luminosity galaxies with very little dust and an older stellar population. They are found in the Local Group as companions to the Milky Way and as systems that are companions to the Andromeda Galaxy (M31). While similar to dwarf elliptical galaxies in appearance and properties such as little to no gas or dust or recent star formation, they are approximately spheroidal in shape and generally have lower luminosity.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Andromeda I</span> Dwarf galaxy in the constellation Andromeda

Andromeda I is a dwarf spheroidal galaxy (dSph) about 2.40 million light-years away in the constellation Andromeda. Andromeda I is part of the local group of galaxies and a satellite galaxy of the Andromeda Galaxy (M31). It is roughly 3.5 degrees south and slightly east of M31. As of 2005, it is the closest known dSph companion to M31 at an estimated projected distance of ~40 kpc or ~150,000 light-years.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sculptor Dwarf Galaxy</span> Dwarf spheroidal Galaxy in the constellation Sculptor

The Sculptor Dwarf Galaxy is a dwarf spheroidal galaxy that is a satellite of the Milky Way. The galaxy lies within the constellation Sculptor. It was discovered in 1937 by American astronomer Harlow Shapley using the 24-inch Bruce refractor at Boyden Observatory. The galaxy is located about 290,000 light-years away from the Solar System. The Sculptor Dwarf contains only 4 percent of the carbon and other heavy elements in our own galaxy, the Milky Way, making it similar to primitive galaxies seen at the edge of the universe.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">NGC 4395</span> Galaxy in the constellation Canes Venatici

NGC 4395 is a nearby low surface brightness spiral galaxy located about 14 million light-years from Earth in the constellation Canes Venatici. The nucleus of NGC 4395 is active and the galaxy is classified as a Seyfert Type I known for its very low-mass supermassive black hole.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tucana Dwarf</span> Dwarf galaxy in the constellation Tucana

The Tucana Dwarf Galaxy is a dwarf galaxy in the constellation Tucana. It was discovered in 1990 by R.J. Lavery of Mount Stromlo Observatory. It is composed of very old stars and is very isolated from other galaxies. Its location on the opposite side of the Milky Way from other Local Group galaxies makes it an important object for study.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ursa Minor Dwarf</span> Dwarf spheroidal galaxy

The Ursa Minor Dwarf is a dwarf spheroidal galaxy, discovered by A.G. Wilson of the Lowell Observatory, in the United States, during the Palomar Sky Survey in 1955. It appears in the Ursa Minor constellation, and is a satellite galaxy of the Milky Way. The galaxy consists mainly of older stars and seems to house little to no ongoing star formation. Its centre is around 225,000 light years distant from Earth.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">IC 1613</span> Irregular dwarf galaxy in the constellation Cetus

IC 1613 is an irregular dwarf galaxy, visible in the constellation Cetus near the star 26 Ceti. It was discovered in 1906 by Max Wolf, and is approaching Earth at 234 km/s.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pisces Dwarf</span>

The Pisces Dwarf, also known as Pisces I, is an irregular dwarf galaxy that is part of the Local Group. The galaxy, taking its name from the constellation Pisces where it appears, is suspected of being a satellite galaxy of the Triangulum Galaxy (M33). It displays a blueshift, as it is approaching the Milky Way at 287 km/s. It may be transition-type galaxy, somewhere between dwarf spheroidal and dwarf irregular. Alternatively, it may be a rare, but statistically acceptable, version of one of the two types.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fornax Dwarf</span> Dwarf galaxy in the constellation Fornax

The Fornax Dwarf Spheroidal is a dwarf elliptical galaxy in the constellation Fornax that was discovered in 1938 by Harlow Shapley. He discovered it while he was in South Africa on photographic plates taken by the 24 inch (61 cm) Bruce refractor at Boyden Observatory, shortly after he discovered the Sculptor Dwarf Galaxy.

Andromeda V is a dwarf spheroidal galaxy about 2.52 Mly away in the constellation Andromeda.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dwarf spiral galaxy</span> Dwarf counterparts of spiral galaxies

A dwarf spiral galaxy is the dwarf version of a spiral galaxy. Dwarf galaxies are characterized as having low luminosities, small diameters, low surface brightnesses, and low hydrogen masses. The galaxies may be considered a subclass of low-surface-brightness galaxies.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Boötes I</span> Galaxy in the constellation Boötes

The Boötes Dwarf Galaxy is a galaxy discovered in 2006, which appears faint, with a luminosity of 100,000 L and an absolute magnitude of –5.8. It lies about 197,000 light-years away in the constellation Boötes. This dwarf spheroidal galaxy appears to be tidally disrupted by the Milky Way Galaxy, which it orbits, and has two stellar tails that cross over to form a cross. Tidally disrupted galaxies usually only form one tail. The galaxy appears to be significantly elongated, with an ellipticity of ε = 0.68 ± 0.15.

Canes Venatici I or CVn I is a dwarf spheroidal galaxy situated in the Canes Venatici constellation and discovered in 2006 in the data obtained by Sloan Digital Sky Survey. It is one of the most distant known satellites of the Milky Way as of 2011 together with Leo I and Leo II. The galaxy is located at a distance of about 220 kpc from the Sun and is moving away from the Sun at a velocity of about 31 km/s. It is classified as a dwarf spheroidal galaxy (dSph) meaning that it has an elliptical shape with the half-light radius of about 550 pc.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Antlia Dwarf</span> Galaxy in the constellation Antlia

The Antlia Dwarf is a dwarf spheroidal/irregular galaxy. It lies about 1.3 Mpc from Earth in the constellation Antlia. It is the fourth and faintest member of the nearby Antlia-Sextans Group of galaxies. The galaxy contains stars of all ages, contains significant amounts of gas, and has experienced recent star formation. The Antlia Dwarf is believed to be tidally interacting with the small barred spiral galaxy NGC 3109.

Leo T is a dwarf galaxy situated in the Leo constellation and discovered in 2006 in the data obtained by Sloan Digital Sky Survey. The galaxy is located at the distance of about 420 kpc from the Sun and moves away from the Sun with the velocity of about 35 km/s. The velocity with respect to the Milky Way is around −60 km/s implying a slow infall onto the Milky Way. Leo T is classified as a transitional object between dwarf spheroidal galaxies (dSph) and dwarf irregular galaxies (dIrr). Its half-light radius is about 180 pc.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 "NASA/IPAC Extragalactic Database". Results for PegDIG. Retrieved 2007-03-15.
  2. 1 2 McConnachie, A. W.; Irwin, M. J.; Ferguson, A. M. N.; Ibata, R. A.; Lewis, G. F.; Tanvir, N. (2005). "Distances and metallicities for 17 Local Group galaxies". Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society . 356 (4): 979–997. arXiv: astro-ph/0410489 . Bibcode:2005MNRAS.356..979M. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2966.2004.08514.x .
  3. Gallager, J S.; Tolstoy, E.; Dohm-Palmer, Robbie C.; Skillman, E D.; Cole, A A.; Hoessel, J G.; Saha, A.; Mateo, M. (1998). "A Wide Field Planetary Camera 2 Study of the Resolved Stellar Population of the Pegasus Dwarf Irregular Galaxy (DDO 216)". The Astronomical Journal. 115 (5): 1869–1889. arXiv: astro-ph/9805284 . Bibcode:1998AJ....115.1869G. doi:10.1086/300328. hdl: 11370/9e84a3d9-98a1-45ad-9bab-3d703d3b0eba . S2CID   119497686.
  4. Karachentsev, Igor D.; Karachentseva, Valentina E.; Huchtmeier, Walter K.; Makarov, Dmitry I. (2004). "A Catalog of Neighboring Galaxies". The Astronomical Journal. 127 (4): 2031–2068. Bibcode:2004AJ....127.2031K. doi: 10.1086/382905 .
  5. van den Bergh, Sidney (2000). The Galaxies of the Local Group. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press. Bibcode:2000glg..book.....V. ISBN   0-521-65181-6.
  6. "The Return" ( Stargate Atlantis )
  7. Cole, Andrew A.; Tolstoy, Eline; Gallagher, John S., III; Hoessel, John G.; Mould, Jeremy R.; Holtzman, Jon A.; Saha, Abhijit; Ballester, Gilda E.; Burrows, Christopher J.; Clarke, John T.; Crisp, David; Griffiths, Richard E.; Grillmair, Carl J.; Hester, Jeff J.; Krist, John E.; Meadows, Vikki; Scowen, Paul A.; Stapelfeldt, Karl R.; Trauger, John T.; Watson, Alan M.; Westphal, James R. (1999). "Stellar Populations at the Center of IC 1613". The Astronomical Journal. 118 (4): 1657–1670. arXiv: astro-ph/9905350 . Bibcode:1999AJ....118.1657C. doi:10.1086/301042. S2CID   17566586.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)