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Elliptical Galaxy NGC 1132 – Hubble
The elliptical galaxy NGC 1132 reveals the final result of what may have been a group of galaxies that merged together in the recent past. Another possibility is that the galaxy formed in isolation as a "lone wolf" in a universe ablaze with galaxy groups and clusters.
NGC 1132 is dubbed a "fossil group" because it contains enormous concentrations of dark matter, comparable to the dark matter found in an entire group of galaxies. NGC 1132 also has a strong X-ray glow from an abundant amount of hot gas that is normally only found in galaxy groups.
In visible light, however, it appears as a single, isolated, large elliptical galaxy. The origin of fossil-group systems remains a puzzle. They may be the end-products of complete merging of galaxies within once-normal groups. Or, they may be very rare objects that formed in a region or period of time where the growth of moderate-sized galaxies was somehow suppressed, and only one large galaxy formed.
Elliptical galaxies are smooth and featureless. Containing hundreds of millions to trillions of stars, they range from nearly spherical to very elongated shapes. Their overall yellowish color comes from the aging stars. Because ellipticals do not contain much cool gas, they no longer can make new stars.
This image of NGC 1132 was taken with Hubble's Advanced Camera for Surveys. Data obtained in 2005 and 2006 through green and near-infrared filters were used in the composite. In this Hubble image, NGC 1132 is seen among a number of smaller dwarf galaxies of similar color. In the background, there is a stunning tapestry of numerous galaxies that are much larger but much farther away.
NGC 1132 is located approximately 318 million light-years away in the constellation Eridanus, the River.
About the Object
- R.A. PositionR.A. PositionRight ascension – analogous to longitude – is one component of an object's position.02h 52m 51.71s
- Dec. PositionDec. PositionDeclination – analogous to latitude – is one component of an object's position.-1° 16' 10.9"
- ConstellationConstellationOne of 88 recognized regions of the celestial sphere in which the object appears.Eridanus
- DistanceDistanceThe physical distance from Earth to the astronomical object. Distances within our solar system are usually measured in Astronomical Units (AU). Distances between stars are usually measured in light-years. Interstellar distances can also be measured in parsecs.318 million light-years or 97 megaparsecs
About the Data
- Data DescriptionData DescriptionProposal: A description of the observations, their scientific justification, and the links to the data available in the science archive.
Science Team: The astronomers who planned the observations and analyzed the data. "PI" refers to the Principal Investigator.HST Proposal: 10558 M. West (European Organization for Astronomical Research in the Southern Hemisphere (ESO)), M. Gregg (University of California, Davis), P. Cote (Dominion Astrophysical Observatory), S. van den Bergh (Dominion Astrophysical Observatory), and M. Drinkwater (University of Queensland). - InstrumentInstrumentThe science instrument used to produce the data.HST>ACS/WFC
- Exposure DatesExposure DatesThe date(s) that the telescope made its observations and the total exposure time.September 25, 2005 and August 22, 2006 Exposure Time: 4.8 hours
- FiltersFiltersThe camera filters that were used in the science observations.F475W (g), F475W (g), and F850LP (z)
- Object NameObject NameA name or catalog number that astronomers use to identify an astronomical object.NGC 1132
- Object DescriptionObject DescriptionThe type of astronomical object.Elliptical Galaxy
- Release DateFebruary 5, 2008
- Science ReleaseIsolated Galaxy or Corporate Merger? Hubble Spies NGC 1132
- Credit
The image is a composite of separate exposures made by the ACS instrument on the Hubble Space Telescope. Two filters were used to sample broad wavelength ranges. The color results from assigning different hues (colors) to each monochromatic image. A third, intermediate image was created by combining the two existing images and assigned to the intermediate primary color. In this case, the assigned colors are: Blue: F475W (g) Green: F475W (g) + F850LP (z) Red: F850LP (z)
Related Images & Videos
NGC 1132 - Chandra X-Ray Observatory/Hubble Space Telescope Compass Image
This image of the elliptical galaxy NGC 1132 combines an image from NASA's Chandra X-Ray Observatory obtained in 2004 with images from the Hubble Space Telescope made in 2005 and 2006 in green and near-infrared light. The blue/purple in the image is the X-ray glow from hot,...
NGC 1132 – Chandra X-Ray Observatory/Hubble Space Telescope
This image of the elliptical galaxy NGC 1132 combines an image from NASA's /Chandra X-Ray Observatory/ obtained in 2004 with images from the /Hubble Space Telescope/ made in 2005 and 2006 in green and near-infrared light. The blue/purple in the image is the X-ray glow from hot,...
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Claire Andreoli
NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center
Greenbelt, Maryland
claire.andreoli@nasa.gov
