Warped Spiral Galaxy ESO510 13
Explanation:
How did spiral galaxy ESO510-13 get bent out-of-shape?
The disks of many
spirals are
thin and flat, but not solid.
Spiral disks are loose conglomerations of
billions of stars and diffuse gas all
gravitationally orbiting a galaxy center.
A
flat disk
is thought to be created by sticky collisions
of large gas clouds early in the
galaxy's formation.
Warped disks are not uncommon, though, and even our own
Milky Way Galaxy is
thought to have a small warp.
The
causes of spiral warps are still being investigated,
but some warps are thought to result
from interactions or even
collisions between galaxies.
ESO510-13,
pictured above,
is about 150 million light years away and
about 100,000 light years across.
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.
