GOODS-N-774
Observation data (J2000 epoch)
ConstellationUrsa Major
Right ascension12h 36m 27.73315s[1]
Declination+62° 07 12.7652[1]
Redshift2.3[2]
Characteristics
TypeProtogalaxy
Mass1×1011 M
Size2 kpc (6.5 kly)
Other designations
Sparky, GOODS-N-774

GOODS-N-774 also called "Sparky", is a distant early galaxy which is in the process of core formation. The galaxy is massive and extremely compact, forming stars furiously. It is thought to be on its way to becoming a giant elliptical galaxy. This galaxy was discovered in 2014, and is some 11 billion light years distant. In the sky, it is located in the constellation of Ursa Major.[1] It is the first discovered galaxy in this stage of giant galaxy formation.[3][4][5]

Characteristics

Sparky is forming stars at a rate of 300 stars per year, compared to our Milky Way's rate of 10. It is only 6,000 light-years (1,800 parsecs) across, unlike our galaxy's 100 kilolight-years (31 kpc) width. And GOODS-N-774, at 1.0×1011MSun, is around twice as massive as the Milky Way Galaxy. The amount of star formation and related high concentrations of gas and dust obscure the view of the galaxy, making it hard to detect. The ferocious rate of star formation is thought to be the result of the dark matter halo drawing great amounts of intergalactic gas into the core, fuelling the continuous starburst, of 1 billion years.[4][3][6] The galaxy does not contain an active galactic nucleus, confounding some expectations.[7]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 "[SWM2014] GOODS-N 774". SIMBAD. Centre de données astronomiques de Strasbourg. Retrieved 2021-01-26.
  2. "hs-2014-37-c". GOODS-North. Hubblesite. Archived from the original on 2016-03-03. Retrieved 2014-08-14.
  3. 1 2 "Witnessing the early growth of a giant". SpaceDaily. 29 August 2014.
  4. 1 2 "Early growth of giant galaxy, just 3 billion years after the Big Bang, revealed". ScienceDaily. 27 August 2014.
  5. Elahe Izadi (29 August 2014). "Astronomers spot the birth of 'Sparky,' a massive star factory". Washington Post.
  6. "Astronomers Discover a Massive Galaxy in Its Core Formation Phase". SciTechDaily. 28 August 2014.
  7. Pete Spotts (29 August 2014). "'Sparky' and its new stars give clues to how massive galaxies evolve". Christian Science Monitor.

Further reading

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