NGC 3314
Encyclopedia
NGC 3314 is a pair of overlapping spiral galaxies between 117-140 million
light-year
s away in the constellation
Hydra
. This unique alignment gives astronomers
the opportunity to measure the properties of interstellar dust in the face-on foreground galaxy (NGC3314a), which appear dark against the background galaxy (NGC 3314b). Unlike interacting galaxies, the two components of NGC3314 are physically unrelated.
While searching for overlapping galaxies in April 1999, two astronomers from the University of Alabama
were the first to image the deep sky object in enough detail to tell that it was in fact two galaxies. http://heritage.stsci.edu/2000/14/ In a March 2000 observation of the galaxies, a prominent green
star
-like object was seen in one of the arms. Astronomers theorized that it could have been a supernova
, but the unique filtering properties of the foreground galaxy made it difficult to decide definitively. http://heritage.stsci.edu/2000/14/blink.html
1 E22 m
To help compare different orders of magnitude, this page lists distances starting at 10 Zm .Distances shorter than 10 Zm* 24 Zm — 2.5 million light years — Distance to the Andromeda Galaxy...
light-year
Light-year
A light-year, also light year or lightyear is a unit of length, equal to just under 10 trillion kilometres...
s away in the constellation
Constellation
In modern astronomy, a constellation is an internationally defined area of the celestial sphere. These areas are grouped around asterisms, patterns formed by prominent stars within apparent proximity to one another on Earth's night sky....
Hydra
Hydra (constellation)
Hydra is the largest of the 88 modern constellations, measuring 1303 square degrees. It has a long history, having been included among the 48 constellations listed by the 2nd century astronomer Ptolemy. It is commonly represented as a water snake...
. This unique alignment gives astronomers
Astronomy
Astronomy is a natural science that deals with the study of celestial objects and phenomena that originate outside the atmosphere of Earth...
the opportunity to measure the properties of interstellar dust in the face-on foreground galaxy (NGC3314a), which appear dark against the background galaxy (NGC 3314b). Unlike interacting galaxies, the two components of NGC3314 are physically unrelated.
While searching for overlapping galaxies in April 1999, two astronomers from the University of Alabama
University of Alabama
The University of Alabama is a public coeducational university located in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, United States....
were the first to image the deep sky object in enough detail to tell that it was in fact two galaxies. http://heritage.stsci.edu/2000/14/ In a March 2000 observation of the galaxies, a prominent green
Green
Green is a color, the perception of which is evoked by light having a spectrum dominated by energy with a wavelength of roughly 520–570 nanometres. In the subtractive color system, it is not a primary color, but is created out of a mixture of yellow and blue, or yellow and cyan; it is considered...
star
Star
A star is a massive, luminous sphere of plasma held together by gravity. At the end of its lifetime, a star can also contain a proportion of degenerate matter. The nearest star to Earth is the Sun, which is the source of most of the energy on Earth...
-like object was seen in one of the arms. Astronomers theorized that it could have been a supernova
Supernova
A supernova is a stellar explosion that is more energetic than a nova. It is pronounced with the plural supernovae or supernovas. Supernovae are extremely luminous and cause a burst of radiation that often briefly outshines an entire galaxy, before fading from view over several weeks or months...
, but the unique filtering properties of the foreground galaxy made it difficult to decide definitively. http://heritage.stsci.edu/2000/14/blink.html