AM 0644-741, also known as the Lindsay-Shapley Ring, is an unbarred lenticular galaxy, and a ring galaxy, which is 300 million light-years away in the southern constellation Volans.
| AM 0644-741 | |
|---|---|
 AM 0644-741, as taken by the HST. The galaxy that pierced through the ring galaxy is out of the image | |
| Observation data (J2000 epoch) | |
| Constellation | Volans |
| Right ascension | 6h 43m 6.1s[1] |
| Declination | −74° 13′ 35″[1] |
| Redshift | 6604 ± 26 km/s[1] |
| Distance | 300 Mly |
| Apparent magnitude (V) | 13.96[1] |
| Characteristics | |
| Type | (S0-) + Ring[1] |
| Apparent size (V) | 1.7′[1] |
| Other designations | |
| Southern Ellipse,[1] PGC 19481, AM 0644-741, ESO 34-11, VV 785, IRAS 06443-7411, SGC 064425-7411.1 | |
Properties
editFormation
editThe yellowish nucleus was once the center of a normal spiral galaxy, and the ring which currently surrounds the center is 150,000 light years in diameter.[2] The ring is theorized to have formed by a collision with another galaxy, which triggered a gravitational disruption that caused dust in the galaxy to condense and form stars, which forced it to then expand away from the galaxy and create a ring.
Physical characteristics
editThe ring's intense blue hue is the result of widespread formation of massive, young, blue stars. The pink regions along the ring are another sign of rampant star formation. They are rarefied clouds of glowing hydrogen gas, fluorescing as a result of the young blue stars' intense ultraviolet light.[3]
Future of the ring
editGalactic simulation models suggest that the ring of AM 0644-741 will continue to expand for about another 300 million years, after which it will begin to disintegrate.[4]
References
edit- ^ a b c d e f g "Nasa/Ipac Extragalactic Database". Results for AM 0644-741. Retrieved 2006-10-12.
- ^ Nemiroff, R.; Bonnell, J., eds. (April 19, 2015). "Ring Galaxy AM 0644-741 from Hubble". Astronomy Picture of the Day. NASA.
- ^ "Blue Stars Ring Nucleus of Galaxy AM 0644-741". HubbleSite. Retrieved 27 August 2024.
- ^ "The Lure of the Rings". News Release Number: STScI-2004-15. HubbleSite. April 22, 2004. Retrieved March 31, 2012.