Galaxies
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Image Credit: NASA, ESA, S. Beckwith (STScI) and the HUDF Team
Text & Graphic Source: http://solarsystem.nasa.gov/multimedia/display.cfm?IM_ID=1463
This graphic image was made by the NASA Hubble Space Telescope over a period of nearly 2 weeks. In the
constellation Fornax is a region that is fairly void of stars and other objects. Scientist used the Hubble Space Telescope
to take images from deep within this region. What you see above is the result. For an even more amazing experience,
click on the link directly below the image and go to the original page. Beneath NASA's image, click on "Hi Res 60.43
MB" for an image that you can explore in detail. I think I saw Elvis in that one.
There is an estimated 10,000 galaxies in this image. Now, that might not be too inspiring until you consider it would be
looking at the same amount of sky as if you were looking through an 8 foot soda straw! And how far away are they?
Light left the larger, closer galaxies in this image during a period of geologic time we call the Precambrian, which ended 0.6
billion years ago. This light left approximately 1 billion years ago. That is one billion light years. Much like "fossil
light," if you stop and think about it.
constellation Fornax is a region that is fairly void of stars and other objects. Scientist used the Hubble Space Telescope
to take images from deep within this region. What you see above is the result. For an even more amazing experience,
click on the link directly below the image and go to the original page. Beneath NASA's image, click on "Hi Res 60.43
MB" for an image that you can explore in detail. I think I saw Elvis in that one.
There is an estimated 10,000 galaxies in this image. Now, that might not be too inspiring until you consider it would be
looking at the same amount of sky as if you were looking through an 8 foot soda straw! And how far away are they?
Light left the larger, closer galaxies in this image during a period of geologic time we call the Precambrian, which ended 0.6
billion years ago. This light left approximately 1 billion years ago. That is one billion light years. Much like "fossil
light," if you stop and think about it.
Hubble Ultra Deep Field
Types of Galaxies
Hubble Space
Telescope
Ultra-Deep Field
High Resolution
Image (a very large
file [60.4 MB], click
only if you have a
high-speed
connection)
Telescope
Ultra-Deep Field
High Resolution
Image (a very large
file [60.4 MB], click
only if you have a
high-speed
connection)
| Although the image of the Hubble Ultra Deep Field has given us many different and peculiar shaped galaxies and objects, most galaxies are classified simply as spiral, elliptical, and irregular (or peculiar). |
Spiral Galaxies
Elliptical Galaxies
Irregular (or Peculiar) Galaxies
Image Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/STScI
This galaxy, named NGC 7331, is considered by astronomers to be a
twin of our galaxy. Our galaxy, like this one, is a spiral galaxy. Notice
the bands of light that appear to swirl from the center mass. These
bands are called spiral arms.
Through detailed gathering and plotting of data, astronomers have built
a picture of our own galaxy that shows us that it is a spiral galaxy.
However, because most of it is difficult to see because we are in it, we
can understand the structures of spiral galaxies better by peering away
from our galaxy into space, where we see a multitude of them.
twin of our galaxy. Our galaxy, like this one, is a spiral galaxy. Notice
the bands of light that appear to swirl from the center mass. These
bands are called spiral arms.
Through detailed gathering and plotting of data, astronomers have built
a picture of our own galaxy that shows us that it is a spiral galaxy.
However, because most of it is difficult to see because we are in it, we
can understand the structures of spiral galaxies better by peering away
from our galaxy into space, where we see a multitude of them.
Image Credit: NASA Goddard Space Flight Center
This is an edge-view of our own galaxy, the Milky Way Galaxy. The
image was captured with Goddard Space Flight Center's Cosmic
Background Explorer, called COBE.
The image was captured in infrared light, which is the form of energy we
best know when we feel heat coming from an object without actually
touching the object.
image was captured with Goddard Space Flight Center's Cosmic
Background Explorer, called COBE.
The image was captured in infrared light, which is the form of energy we
best know when we feel heat coming from an object without actually
touching the object.
Free NASA Downloads.
Posters in .pdf format.
Download & print.
Posters in .pdf format.
Download & print.
(1) Source: University of Tennessee Dept. of Physics website:
http://csep10.phys.utk.edu/astr162/lect/galaxies/elliptical.html
http://csep10.phys.utk.edu/astr162/lect/galaxies/elliptical.html
Many galaxies take the form of flattened balls more
than that of a spiral disk. Elliptical galaxies make
up nearly ten percent of the viewable galaxies. (1)
than that of a spiral disk. Elliptical galaxies make
up nearly ten percent of the viewable galaxies. (1)
For more information on elliptical galaxies,
go to the Wikipedia website:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elliptical_galaxy
go to the Wikipedia website:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elliptical_galaxy
About three percent of observable galaxies fall within this realm (1). Irregular
galaxies are classified as all the other galaxies that are not spiral or elliptical. In
the Hubble Ultra Deep Field image above, astronomers say that there are many
odd shaped galaxies, exhibiting themselves in the form of bracelets, toothpicks,
and other irregular shapes. Some of the odd shapes come from violent internal
processes within the galaxy. Other odd shapes are formed when galaxies come
too close together and the gravity of one begins to rip away mass from the other.
Some odd shapes have been conjectured to be caused from the hiding of part of
a galaxy by a "dust cloud" between the galaxy and us.
galaxies are classified as all the other galaxies that are not spiral or elliptical. In
the Hubble Ultra Deep Field image above, astronomers say that there are many
odd shaped galaxies, exhibiting themselves in the form of bracelets, toothpicks,
and other irregular shapes. Some of the odd shapes come from violent internal
processes within the galaxy. Other odd shapes are formed when galaxies come
too close together and the gravity of one begins to rip away mass from the other.
Some odd shapes have been conjectured to be caused from the hiding of part of
a galaxy by a "dust cloud" between the galaxy and us.
Credit: University of Arizona Students for the Exploration and
Development of Space (SEDS)
www.seds.org/messier/xtra/ngc/n5195.html
Development of Space (SEDS)
www.seds.org/messier/xtra/ngc/n5195.html
Galactic Pairs & Interacting Galaxies
Univ. of Alabama Collection
Univ. of Alabama Collection
| Links to Galleries of Images, Observatories, and Other Sites |
Active Galaxy Collection
Univ. of Alabama Collection
Univ. of Alabama Collection
Messier Picture Gallery
Univ. of Alabama Collection
Univ. of Alabama Collection
Normal Galaxies
Univ. of Alabama Collection
Univ. of Alabama Collection
Spiral Galaxy Images
European Space Agency's
Very Large Space Telescope
European Space Agency's
Very Large Space Telescope
Spiral Galaxy Images
ESO's VLT
ESO's VLT
Interacting / Double Galaxies
ESO's VLT
ESO's VLT
Irregular (Peculiar) Galaxy Images
ESO's VLT
ESO's VLT
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