This NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope image shows dwarf galaxy, LEDA 42160. ESA/Hubble & NASA, M. Sun
This NASA/ESA Hubble
Space Telescope image shows LEDA 42160, a galaxy about 52 million light-years from
Earth in the constellation Virgo. The dwarf galaxy is one of many forcing its
way through the comparatively dense gas in the massive Virgo cluster of
galaxies. The pressure exerted by this intergalactic gas, known as ram
pressure, has dramatic effects on star formation in LEDA 42160.
The gas and dust that permeates
space exerts pressure on a galaxy as it moves. This resistance, called ram
pressure, can strip a galaxy of its star-forming gas and dust, reducing or even
stopping the creation of new stars. However, ram pressure can also compress gas
in the galaxy, which can boost star formation.
The Hubble data used to create this
image of LEDA 42160 is part of a project that studied dwarf galaxies undergoing
ram pressure stripping that are part of large galaxy clusters, like the Virgo
cluster. Studies show that ram pressure stripping can initially cause new stars
to form in larger galaxies. The researchers wanted to see if the same holds
true for smaller galaxies, like LEDA 42160. The bright patches on LEDA 42160’s
lower-right flank may be star-forming regions spurred on by ram pressure stripping.
Hubble’s observations of LEDA 42160 will help astronomers determine the
processes that created the features we see in this small galaxy.
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