A team of astronomers recently discovered two possible polar ring galaxies, a strange celestial phenomenon. These galaxies have a ring of stars and gas aligned at a 90-degree angle to the other stars in their surroundings. The discovery suggests that polar ring galaxies may be more common than previously thought.
The two newly identified galaxies have been named NGC 4632 and NGC 6156. NGC 4632 is located about 56 million light-years away in the constellation Virgo, while NGC 6156 is about 150 million light-years away in the constellation Ara. The rings surrounding these galaxies cannot be observed in visible light because they are hidden. However, they become visible through radio observations that capture light beyond the visible light spectrum.
Scientists believe that the rings of stars and gas that surround these galaxies are formed during mergers in which a larger galaxy absorbs a smaller one. The gravitational influence of one galaxy causes a stream of matter to be carried away by the other galaxy. If polar ring galaxies are more common than initially thought, this would mean that these merger events are occurring more frequently.
Studying polar ring galaxies can provide crucial information about dark matter, a mysterious substance that cannot be directly observed but makes up about 85% of the matter in the universe. By delving deeper into understanding these galaxies, scientists hope to unlock the mysteries surrounding the nature and behavior of dark matter.
The team’s results underscore the importance of comprehensive sky mapping and highlight the unexpected discoveries made through this approach. The research also used multiple colors to represent motion within polar ring galaxies, revealing valuable information about the orbital motion of gas within the rings.
In order to further consolidate their findings, the researchers are planning in-depth investigations using a variety of telescopes. Confirming that these galaxies are polar ring galaxies will provide valuable insights into the galactic evolution and distribution of these unique celestial objects.
Overall, this discovery represents an exciting advance in the field of astronomy, challenging previous ideas about the rarity of polar ring galaxies and opening new avenues for understanding the complexity of our universe.
