Astronomy:LEDA 74886

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Short description: Dwarf galaxy in the constellation Eridanus with a rectangular shape
LEDA 74886
False color image of galaxy LEDA 74886, taken by the Subaru Telescope. The contrast of this image has been adjusted to highlight the internal disk/bar like structure.
Observation data (J2000 epoch)
ConstellationEridanus
Right ascension 03h 40m 43.233s[1]
Declination−18° 38′ 43.10″[1]
Distance70,000 kly (21,000 kpc) h−10.73
Group or clusterNGC 1407[2]
Characteristics
TypeS0 [3]
Mass1×109 M
Other designations
2MASX J03404323-1838431, 6dFGS gJ034043.2-183843[1]

LEDA 74886, also known by its 2MASX designation 2MASX J03404323-1838431, and sometimes known as the Emerald-cut Galaxy,[4] is a dwarf galaxy with a rare rectangular shape.[2] It is located at a distance of about 70,000,000 light-years (21 Mpc) in the Eridanus constellation.[5] The galaxy was detected in a wide field of view image taken by the Subaru Telescope using the Subaru Prime Focus Camera (Suprime-Cam).[6][7] Using the Keck Telescope, a thin disc with a side on orientation was confirmed to be lurking at the center of LEDA 74886, and spinning at a speed of 33 km/s at the orbital radius of half a kpc.[2] LEDA 74886 has a mass of around 109 M (Compared to the Milky Way's mass of about 1012 M).

Location

LEDA 74886 is located in the celestial sphere at a right ascension (α) of  03h 40m 43.2s, and a declination (δ) of −18° 38′ 43″ (J2000). It is located within the Galactic corona of NGC 1407, a massive spherical galaxy which is located approximately 163,000 ly (50 kpc) to the northwest of LEDA 74886.[2]

See also

  • SDSS J074018.17+282756.3 is a spiral galaxy with arms that have a somewhat squarish-looking interior, but is distinct from LEDA 74886, because LEDA 74886 has no apparent spiral structure and a boxy like exterior form.[2]
  • Sextans A, a member of the local group, has a box like form due to its expanding shell of young blue stars, but it has a much lower mass and density, and includes a central disc which LEDA 74886 does not include.[2]
  • NGC 4488

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 "6dFGS gJ034043.2-183843". SIMBAD. Centre de données astronomiques de Strasbourg. http://simbad.u-strasbg.fr/simbad/sim-basic?Ident=6dFGS+gJ034043.2-183843. 
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 Graham, Alister W.; Spitler, Lee R.; Forbes, Duncan A.; Lisker, Thorsten; Moore, Ben; Janz, Joachim (March 19, 2012). "Leda 074886: A Remarkable Rectangular-Looking Galaxy". The Astrophysical Journal 750 (2): 121. doi:10.1088/0004-637X/750/2/121. Bibcode2012ApJ...750..121G. 
  3. NED, LEDA 074886 (accessed 20 March 2012)
  4. Major, Jason (20 March 2012). "Rare Rectangle Galaxy Discovered". www.universetoday.com. https://www.universetoday.com/94241/rare-rectangle-galaxy-discovered/. 
  5. Rachel Kaufman (March 20, 2012). "Rare "Emerald Cut" Galaxy Found". National Geographic News. http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2012/03/120320-rectangular-galaxy-emerald-cut-diamond-subaru-space-science/. 
  6. "Astronomers Discover Galaxy That Resembles An Emerald-Cut Diamond". Asian Scientist. March 20, 2012. http://www.asianscientist.com/in-the-lab/leda-074886-emerald-cut-diamond-shape-galaxy/. 
  7. "Surprising Discovery of a Rare "Emerald-Cut" Galaxy" (Press release). Subaru TelescopeNational Astronomical Observatory of Japan. March 19, 2012. Retrieved March 23, 2012.