Every week, TecMundo and #AstroMiniBR select the most relevant astronomical curiosities produced by their collaborators on the X profile to share with you a little more about our unusual and awe-inspiring universe!
#1: Far beyond spiral galaxies!
When we think of galaxies, we think of a perfect spiral like the one in the first photo, right?
but about 20% of nearby galaxies are irregular galaxies like the other 3!
They are literally galaxies with irregular shapes and can be formed as a result of the interaction of galaxies.#AstroMiniBR pic.twitter.com/SjyUEOMHx2
— Giovanna Liberato (@liberato_gio) February 18, 2024
galaxies in the universe grouped into distinct morphological populations, each with different characteristicsThe main categories are elliptical, spiral and irregular galaxies.
Elliptical galaxies have round to oval shapes and have little internal structure, are dominated by old stars, and contain little gas and dust, limiting the formation of new stars.
Spiral galaxies, such as the Milky Way, are characterized by gas- and dust-filled spiral arms where intense star formation occurs, in addition to a central bulge of old stars.
Irregular galaxies do not have a defined shape and often result from galactic interactions or collisions involving large amounts of gas and star-forming regions.
Spiral galaxies are estimated to represent approximately 60% of all galaxies in the observable Universe and are the most common form. Elliptical galaxies make up about 20% to 30% of galaxies, while irregular galaxies make up about 10% to 20%.
This percentage distribution is based on observations from large galaxy surveys such as the Sloan Digital Sky Survey. Helping us understand the cosmic history and dynamics of the universe In a large size.
#2: The evolution of astronomical observations
When we think of galaxies, we think of a perfect spiral like the one in the first photo, right?
but about 20% of nearby galaxies are irregular galaxies like the other 3!
They are literally irregularly shaped galaxies and can be created by galaxy interactions.#AstroMiniBR pic.twitter.com/SjyUEOMHx2
— Giovanna Liberato (@liberato_gio) February 18, 2024
As astronomers in the 19th century observed the skies with their optical telescopes, they often relied on hand-drawn illustrations to record and share their discoveries.
A fascinating example from this period is the image above. Stephan’s Quintet, a visual group of five galaxies discovered by French astronomer Édouard Stephan. The first representations of this galactic grouping were these drawings, which aimed to capture the arrangement and properties of galaxies based on observations made.
Today, advanced technology allows us to observe the Stephan Quintet with a clarity and sensitivity unimaginable in the past. With the help of space telescopes such as Hubble and James Webb, we can see incredibly detailed images of galaxies, revealing complex structures, gravitational interactions and ongoing fusion processes.
Modern paintings, such as the one above right, not only capture the beauty of the Five, but also Provides data needed for astronomers to study how galaxies form and how they evolved over time.
#3: How big is the Sun?
?? We can look at ants to understand how small the Earth is compared to the Sun!
Considering HEIGHT only, a 170cm tall human is ~113 times larger than a 1.5cm ant.
The Sun is approximately 109 times larger (in radius) than the Earth.#AstroMiniBR pic.twitter.com/ufRVQeoLio— Thiago Flaulhabe (@TFlaulhabe) May 9, 2023
Our nearest star, the Sun, is an incredibly large and hot sphere of plasma at the center of the Solar System. Its size is surprisingly large compared to Earth: the Sun is about 1.39 million kilometers in diameter, which means it is about 109 times larger than the diameter of our planet.
To get a clearer idea, The volume of the Sun is so large that it can contain approximately 1.3 million Earths.. In addition to its impressive dimensions, the mass of the Sun is equally remarkable. It contains 99.86% of the entire mass of the Solar System, making it approximately 333,000 times larger than Earth.
Comparison of physical sizes between the Sun and Earth highlights the disparity in sizes and masses, underlining the central and dominant position of the Sun in our planetary system; Understanding this not only expands our perspective on the vastness of the universe, but also reinforces the uniqueness of our planet and the delicate adaptation required to sustain life as we know it.
Did you like the content? Therefore, always stay up to date with the latest astronomical curiosities at TecMundo. Until later!
Source: Tec Mundo
I’m Blaine Morgan, an experienced journalist and writer with over 8 years of experience in the tech industry. My expertise lies in writing about technology news and trends, covering everything from cutting-edge gadgets to emerging software developments. I’ve written for several leading publications including Gadget Onus where I am an author.
