These are part of a group or cluster of galaxies, their mass is comparatively low, and they orbit a much more massive central galaxy similar to the way satellites orbit the Earth. In yet other galaxies, star formation appears to be suppressed, or "quenched," as astronomers say: Such galaxies have virtually stopped forming new stars.Ī special kind of galaxy, specimens of which are frequently - almost half of the time - found to be in such a quenched state, are so-called satellite galaxies.
Others undergo brief bursts of excessive star formation activity, called "star bursts," with hundreds of stars born per year. In our own Milky Way galaxy, only one or two new stars are born each year. Going by such measurements, some galaxies are forming stars at rather sedate rates. As such, it is a good example for the kind of informal interaction that has become more difficult under pandemic conditions.Īstronomical observations that include taking a distant galaxy's spectrum - the rainbow-like separation of a galaxy's light into different wavelengths - allow for fairly direct measurements of the rate at which that galaxy is forming new stars. The counter-intuitive result came out of a collaboration sparked by a lunchtime conversation between astronomers specializing in large-scale computer simulations and observers.
But now, researchers have found that the same activity can actually help with star formation - at least for the satellite galaxies that orbit the host galaxy. As they blast energy into their host galaxy, they heat up and eject that galaxy's gas, making it more difficult for the galaxy to produce new stars. Active black holes are primarily thought to have a destructive influence on their surroundings.
0 kommentar(er)
