Frankenstein Galaxy

Galex_glx2016-01f_img01_1024

galex_glx2016-01f_img01 July 11th, 2016

Credit: NASA/JPL/Caltech/SDSS/NRAO/L. Hagen and M. Seibert

The galaxy UGC 1382 has been revealed to be far larger and stranger than previously thought. Astronomers relied on a combination of ground-based and space telescopes to uncover the true nature of this “Frankenstein galaxy.” The composite image shows the same galaxy as viewed with different instruments. The component images are also available.

In the image at left, UGC 1382 appears to be a simple elliptical galaxy, based on optical data from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS). But spiral arms emerged when astronomers incorporated ultraviolet data from the Galaxy Evolution Explorer (GALEX) and deep optical data from SDSS, as seen in the middle image. Combining that with a view of low-density hydrogen gas (shown in green), detected at radio wavelengths by the Very Large Array, scientists discovered that UGC 1382 is a giant, and one of the largest isolated galaxies known.

GALEX in particular was able detect very faint features because it operated from space, which is necessary for UV observations because ultraviolet light is absorbed by the Earth's atmosphere. Astronomers also used Stripe 82 of SDSS, a small region of sky where SDSS imaged the sky 80 times longer than the original standard SDSS survey. This enabled optical detection of much fainter features as well.

Caltech in Pasadena led the GALEX mission, which ended in 2013 after more than a decade of scanning the skies in ultraviolet light. NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, also in Pasadena, managed the mission and built the science instrument. Data for the 2MASS and WISE missions are archived at IPAC. JPL is managed by Caltech for NASA.

Provider: Galaxy Evolution Explorer

Image Source: http://www.galex.caltech.edu/media/glx2016-01f_img01.html

Curator: Galaxy Evolution Explorer, Pasadena, CA, USA

Image Use Policy: Public Domain

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Image Details

Image Type
Collage
Object Name
UGC 1382
Subject - Local Universe
Galaxy
Galex_glx2016-01f_img01_128
 

Position Details

Position (ICRS)
RA = 0h 0m -34.4s
DEC = 28° 40’ 15.6”
Orientation
North is up
Field of View
13.2 x 15.8 arcminutes
Constellation
Pegasus
Galex_glx2016-01f_img01_1280
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ID
glx2016-01f_img01
Subject Category
C.5  
Subject Name
UGC 1382
Credits
NASA/JPL/Caltech/SDSS/NRAO/L. Hagen and M. Seibert
Release Date
2016-07-11
Lightyears
Redshift
Reference Url
http://www.galex.caltech.edu/media/glx2016-01f_img01.html
Type
Collage
Image Quality
Good
Distance Notes
Facility
Instrument
Color Assignment
Band
Bandpass
Central Wavelength
Start Time
Integration Time
53.905
Dataset ID
Notes
Coordinate Frame
ICRS
Equinox
Reference Value
-0.143360, 28.6710
Reference Dimension
2000, 2400
Reference Pixel
1000, 1200
Scale
1.09999999400000e-04, 1.09999999400000e-04
Rotation
0
Coordinate System Projection:
TAN
Quality
FITS Header
Notes
Creator (Curator)
Galaxy Evolution Explorer
URL
http://www.galex.caltech.edu
Name
Email
Telephone
Address
1200 E. California Blvd.
City
Pasadena
State/Province
CA
Postal Code
91125
Country
USA
Rights
Public Domain
Publisher
Galaxy Evolution Explorer
Publisher ID
galex
Resource ID
Resource URL
/image/galex/glx2016-01f_img01
Related Resources
Metadata Date
2016-07-07T23:42:49Z
Metadata Version
1.1
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Detailed color mapping information coming soon...

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There is no distance meta data in this image.

 

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