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Астронет: Астрономическая картинка дня Карликовая эллиптическая галактика M32 http://variable-stars.ru/db/msg/1161866/eng |
Credit & Copyright: 1.1 Meter Hall Telescope,
Lowell Observatory,
Bill Keel
(U. Alabama)
Explanation:
Being the largest galaxy around can sometimes make you popular. Pictured
is M31's companion galaxy
M32.
M31, the Andromeda galaxy, is the largest
galaxy in our
Local Group of galaxies
- even our tremendous
Milky Way Galaxy is smaller.
Little M32 is visible in most pictures of M31 - it is
the small circular spot north of M31's center. M32 is a
dwarf elliptical
galaxy.
Elliptical galaxies have little or no measurable
gas or
dust -
they are composed completely of
stars and typically appear more red than
spiral galaxies.
Elliptical galaxies do not have disks -
they generally have oblong shapes and therefore show elliptical profiles on
the sky.
Authors & editors:
Robert Nemiroff
(MTU) &
Jerry Bonnell
(USRA)
NASA Web Site Statements, Warnings,
and Disclaimers
NASA Official: Jay Norris.
Specific
rights apply.
A service of:
LHEA at
NASA /
GSFC
& Michigan Tech. U.