Eyes Galaxies

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Eyes Galaxies
52 million ly
Apparent magnitude (V)+10
Absolute magnitude (V)12
Characteristics
TypeSB0/SA(s)O/a pec
Apparent size (V)2.35 × 1.43/8.5 × 3.2
Notable featuresInteracting
Other designations
NGC 4435-8, Arp 120, VV 188 VCC 1030, VCC 1043

The Eyes Galaxies (NGC 4435-NGC 4438, also known as Arp 120) are a pair of galaxies about

52 million light-years away in the constellation Virgo. The pair are members of the string of galaxies known as Markarian's Chain
.

NGC 4435

NGC 4435 is a

galactic cirrus within the Milky Way unrelated to NGC 4435.[3]

NGC 4438

NGC 4438 is the most curious interacting galaxy in the Virgo Cluster, due to the uncertainty surrounding the energy mechanism that heats the nuclear source; this energy mechanism may be a

starburst region, or a black hole-powered active galactic nucleus
(AGN). Both hypotheses are currently under investigation by astronomers.

This galaxy shows a highly distorted

ram-pressure stripping[5] as NGC 4438 moves at high speed through Virgo's intracluster medium, increased by the encounter between both galaxies.[6][7]

As interacting galaxies

NGC 4435-NGC 4438 in the Virgo Cluster of galaxies

While there is evidence to suggest that the environmental damage to the interstellar medium of NGC 4438 may have been caused by an off-center collision with NGC 4435 millions of years ago, a recent discovery of several filaments of

ionized gas links NGC 4438 with the large neighboring elliptical galaxy Messier 86,[8] in addition to a discovery of gas and dust within M86 that may have been stripped from NGC 4438 during a past encounter between the two.[9][10] Given the high density of galaxies in the center of the Virgo galaxy cluster, it is possible that the three galaxies, NGC 4435, NGC 4438, and M86, have had past interactions.[11]

In the 2014 film Interstellar, "NGC 4438" along with specific observation data can be seen in Murphy Cooper (Jessica Chastain)'s notepad during the film's climactic sequence. As the presence of a supermassive black hole in the AGC of NGC 4438 is one of two leading theories, the galaxy is potentially that accessed by the wormhole in the film.

References

  1. ^ Panuzzo, P.; Vega, O.; Bressan, A.; Buson, L.; et al. (2007). "The Star Formation History of the Virgo Early-Type Galaxy NGC 4435: The Spitzer Mid-Infrared View". The Astrophysical Journal. 656 (1): 206–216.
    S2CID 14509466
    .
  2. ^ The Tail of NGC 4435
  3. ^ Cortese, L.; Bendo, G. J.; Isaak, K. G.; Davies, J. I.; et al. (2010). "Diffuse far-infrared and ultraviolet emission in the NGC 4435/4438 system: tidal stream or Galactic cirrus?".
    S2CID 118358744
    .
  4. ^ Boselli, A.; Boissier, S.; Cortese, L.; Gil de Paz, A.; et al. (2005). "GALEX Ultraviolet Observations of the Interacting Galaxy NGC 4438 in the Virgo Cluster". The Astrophysical Journal. 623 (1): L13–L16.
    S2CID 16771650
    .
  5. ^ Vollmer, B.; Soida, M.; Chung, A.; Chemin, L.; et al. (2009). "Ram pressure stripping of the multiphase ISM in the Virgo cluster spiral galaxy NGC 4438". Astronomy & Astrophysics. 496 (3): 669–675.
    S2CID 15686123
    .
  6. ^ Combes, F.; Dupraz, C.; .
  7. ^ Vollmer, B.; Braine, J.; Combes, F.; Sofue, Y. (2005). "New CO observations and simulations of the NGC 4438/NGC 4435 system. Interaction diagnostics of the Virgo cluster galaxy NGC 4438". Astronomy & Astrophysics. 441 (2): 473–489.
    S2CID 8506380
    .
  8. ^ Kenney, Jeffrey D. P.; Tal, Tomer; Crowl, Hugh H.; Feldmeier, John; et al. (2008). "A Spectacular Hα Complex in Virgo: Evidence for a Collision between M86 and NGC 4438 and Implications for the Collisional ISM Heating of Ellipticals". The Astrophysical Journal. 687 (2): L69–L94.
    S2CID 14277489
    .
  9. ^ Gomez, H. L.; Baes, M.; Cortese, L.; Smith, M. W. L.; et al. (2010). "A Spectacular Hα Complex in Virgo: Evidence for a Collision between M86 and NGC 4438 and Implications for the Collisional ISM Heating of Ellipticals". Astronomy and Astrophysics. 518: L45.
    S2CID 14563125. L45.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link
    )
  10. ^ "Big Galaxy Collisions Can Stunt Star Formation" (Press release). National Optical Astronomy Observatory. October 7, 2008. Archived from the original on February 9, 2013. Retrieved August 8, 2012.
  11. ^ David Darling. "The Eyes (NGC 4435 and 4438)". Encyclopedia of Science.