Hubble images two spiral galaxies: one perfect and one peculiar
You might have heard that galaxies come in different types, classified based on their shapes. There are elliptical galaxies, which are smooth and featureless, looking like giant blobs of light. Then there are irregular galaxies, which have often been pulled into strange shapes by the forces of gravity as they merged with or passed close by another galaxy. And then there are the iconic spiral galaxies, like our Milky Way, which have long arm-like shapes reaching out from their center to form a distinctive structure.
However, not all spiral galaxies are created equal, as two recent images from the Hubble Space Telescope show. The image above shows galaxy NGC 3596, a neat and orderly spiral galaxy. And the image below shows galaxy Arp 184 (also known as NGC 1961), which is a type called a peculiar spiral galaxy.
One of the most obvious differences between the two images is the way that the galaxies appear from Earth: we are looking at NGC 3596 face-on, so it appears particularly regular. Galaxy Arp 184, however, we are seeing from an angle, so it looks different. More than that, though, Arp 184 is skewed so that it isn't perfectly spiral shaped. However, it clearly isn't a featureless elliptical galaxy either, so it was categorized as a peculiar galaxy in the delightfully named Atlas of Peculiar Galaxies, compiled by Halton Arp in 1966.
Recommended Videos
The spiral arm closest to us in the image of Arp 184 is prominent and broad, but there is no equivalent large arm on the opposite side. The galaxy is asymmetrical, which is what marks it out as unusual.
Compare that to galaxy NGC 3596, which has neat arms of similar sizes, which glow pink in this image to represent areas of busy star formation. So why do some galaxies develop spiral arms but not others, and why do these arms come in so many different shapes and sizes? That's something that astronomers are still studying, but it has to do with the density of stars in certain parts of the galaxy.
'Researchers believe that spiral arms represent a pattern of high-density and low-density areas rather than a physical structure,' Hubble scientists explain. 'As stars, gas and dust orbit within a galaxy's disc, they pass in and out of the spiral arms. Much like cars moving through a traffic jam, these materials slow down and bunch up as they enter a spiral arm, before emerging and continuing their journey through the galaxy.'
Please enable Javascript to view this content
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Forbes
3 hours ago
- Forbes
Ohio Aquarium Celebrates Father's Day With Four Pregnant Male Dragons
Weedy seadragons (Phyllopteryx taeniolatus) are part of the order Syngnathiformes, an evolutionary ... More branch that also contains all living seahorse species. Celebrated for well over a century in the United States, Father's Day seeks to honor the countless sacrifices and unwavering devotion seen from parents all across the country—and this year, it's not just humans that are joining in on the celebration. In Ohio's largest city, the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium has extra cause to celebrate thanks to four male weedy seadragons, each one bearing a huge bundle of eggs tucked along their tails. Though perhaps not the most conventional Father's Day participants, these fascinating fish mark a milestone in marine wildlife conservation, with no other public aquarium on the planet hosting four egg-bearing male dragons at the same time until now. In spite of their fearsome name, the weedy seadragon measures in at just about 18 inches, and it also comes equipped with colorful, streamer-like growths along the body to mimic seaweed as a form of camouflage—but perhaps the most fascinating aspect of these pint-sized fish is their method of reproduction. After a mating session, female weedy sea dragons deposit fertilized eggs onto a specialized patch on the side of the male's tail, leaving their mate with the responsibility of caring for their brood until they hatch roughly six to eight weeks later. While male seahorses use a brood pouch to store their eggs, male seadragons instead use a brood ... More patch. While the egg-bearing dragons are certainly a sight to behold, this occasion also doubles as a breakthrough for ocean conservation. Weedy seadragons have a reputation for being particularly difficult to breed in captivity—and while esteemed institutions like the New England Aquarium and SEA LIFE Melbourne Aquarium have had success in the past, the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium is the first to record four egg-carrying males all at the same time. So far, the program has been a resounding success, with many of the early hatchlings moved to a separate facility for the next year until they reach maturity. Over the next few months, the fry will gorge themselves on thousands of tiny crustaceans each week, while the institution's Animal Care team will be hard at work to ensure that as many as possible can reach full maturity. Father's Day visitors can marvel at these eye-catching syngnathids to their hearts' content, but of course, there's far more to see at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium than just dragons. During a visit to the Congo Expedition exhibit, patrons can spot tropical rainforest-dwelling creatures like the okapi and western lowland gorilla, while the Asia Quest zone draws crowds in droves thanks to residents like the Asian elephant, Amur tiger and Pallas' cat. And while charismatic megafauna can be encountered in abundance across zoo limits, the institution also works closely with less-recognized animals like the hellbender, black-and-white ruffed lemur and leatherback sea turtle, each one subject to ambitious conservation programs that seek to ensure the future survival of each species. The weedy seadragon is endemic to the waters of southern Australia. While Father's Day tends to focus on the human side of society, the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium is highlighting the tenacity of the entire animal kingdom this year, with four expectant fathers flourishing within the institution. Though often considered difficult to breed in captivity, this collection of four egg-bearing males acts as a beacon of hope for the future of marine wildlife conservation, ultimately highlighting the need for exemplary zoos and aquariums to support the battle for preserving global biodiversity.
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Yahoo
Sarepta Reports New Elevidys Data from Two Separate Studies in Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy
Sarepta Therapeutics (SRPT) said Friday that new data from two separate studies of its gene therapy
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Yahoo
Sarepta reports outcomes from trial of Duchenne muscular dystrophy therapy
Sarepta Therapeutics has announced new outcomes from its open-label Phase Ib Study 9001-103, also referred to as the ENDEAVOR trial, of adeno-associated virus (AAV)-based gene transfer therapy Elevidys (delandistrogene moxeparvovec-rokl) to treat Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). The multi-cohort ENDEAVOR study is aimed at evaluating the therapy's safety and protein expression in male subjects with DMD. Across seven cohorts, the trial enrolled 55 subjects and dosed participants who were aged between four and seven years old at the time of treatment, with varying degrees of mobility, and those younger than four years old. The primary endpoint of the trial is the change from baseline in Elevidys micro-dystrophin protein expression quantity at 12 weeks, as per western blot measurement, with secondary outcomes measuring dystrophin-positive fibres. In addition, the trial's exploratory endpoints evaluate the change in vector genome copies per nucleus, the North Star Ambulatory Assessment (NSAA), and timed functional tests. Inclusive of the first 12-week duration, subjects will undergo a follow-up period of a total of five years. In cohort 6, subjects aged two years old at the time of treatment showed a mean expression of 93.87% of normal dystrophin levels when treated with the therapy, with 79.9% dystrophin-positive fibres. These outcomes were observed in biopsies 12 weeks post-treatment. The safety seen in this cohort was found to be in line with the clinical and real-world applications of the therapy. Sarepta noted that the company has shared safety and expression from the trial's cohort 4, in which subjects were aged three at the time of treatment and showed a mean protein level of 99.64% in biopsies taken at the same post-treatment interval. More than 25 subjects below four years of age were treated in Sarepta's clinical trials. Sarepta Therapeutics research and development head and chief scientific officer Louise Rodino-Klapac said: 'The strength of the biomarker results that we are seeing in younger patients is extremely encouraging, and we have a meeting with the US Food and Drug Administration next month to discuss expanding the Elevidys label to include younger patients.' Last December, Sarepta completed enrolment and dosing for the Phase III EMERGENE trial of SRP-9003 (bidridistrogene xeboparvovec), targeting limb-girdle muscular dystrophy Type 2E/R4. "Sarepta reports outcomes from trial of Duchenne muscular dystrophy therapy" was originally created and published by Clinical Trials Arena, a GlobalData owned brand. The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
