In the constellation Eridanus is a very strange dwarf galaxy, LEDA 74886, which, for some unknown reason, is rectangular.
Some believe the dwarf galaxy LEDA 74886 has the unusual rectangular shape it does as the result of two colliding galaxies. A thin disk at the center was confirmed by the Keck telescope in Hawaii to be spinning at 73,819 miles per hour.
LEDA 74886, also known by its 2MASX designation 2MASX J03404323-1838431, and sometimes known as the Emerald-cut Galaxy,[4] is a dwarf galaxy with a rare rectangular shape.[2] It is located at a distance of about 70,000,000 light-years (21 Mpc) in the Eridanus constellation.[5] The galaxy was detected in a wide field of view image taken by the Subaru Telescope using the Subaru Prime Focus Camera (Suprime-Cam).[6][7] Using the Keck Telescope, a thin disc with a side on orientation was confirmed to be lurking at the center of LEDA 74886, and spinning at a speed of 33 km/s at the orbital radius of half a kpc.[2] LEDA 74886 has a mass of around 109 M☉ (Compared to the Milky Way‘s mass of about 1012 M☉).{Wikip}
It looks like a giant space bacterium in this image.
Here are a few notable aspects of this galaxy:
1. Unusual Shape: LEDA 74886 is categorized as an irregular or peculiar dwarf galaxy due to its irregular shape. Unlike more regular, symmetrically shaped galaxies, this one appears warped and distorted.
2. An Overgrown Black Hole: One of the prominent features of LEDA 74886 is the supermassive black hole at its center. This black hole is exceptionally large compared to the galaxy’s overall size. It is estimated to have a mass of around 30 million times that of our sun, which is disproportionately massive for a galaxy of its scale.
3. Tidal Forces: Scientists speculate that the distorted shape of LEDA 74886 may be due to tidal forces caused by gravitational interactions with other galaxies. Such interactions could pull on the galaxy, leading to its peculiar shape.
4. Star Formation: Despite being a dwarf galaxy, LEDA 74886 displays significant ongoing star formation. The presence of extensive star formation regions suggests that the galaxy is actively producing new stars, which may be influenced by the interactions with neighboring galaxies.
Speculation on Cause of the Shape
1. Collision with a larger galaxy: One theory suggests that LEDA 74886 may have experienced a significant collision with a larger galaxy in the past. This collision, passing through without a merging, could have distorted its shape and caused it to appear rectangular.
2. Gravitational interactions: LEDA 74886 might have undergone intense gravitational interactions with neighboring galaxies or dark matter structures. These interactions could have influenced its shape, causing it to become rectangular. The strong tidal forces acting on the dwarf galaxy could have elongated it into a rectangular shape.
3. Merger of multiple galaxies: LEDA 74886 could be the result of a merger between multiple smaller galaxies. As these galaxies merged, their combined gravitational forces and tidal effects could have altered the shape of the resulting dwarf galaxy.
4. Strong bar structure: LEDA 74886 may possess a strong bar-like structure in its center. This bar could be responsible for the rectangular appearance of the galaxy, where the ends of the bar create the corners of the rectangle. The mechanism behind the formation of such a bar structure in the dwarf galaxy is still not well understood.
Overall, LEDA 74886 remains an intriguing object of study for astronomers, as it challenges our understanding of galaxy formation and evolution. Further research and observations are needed to determine the exact cause of the rectangular shape and peculiar characteristics of LEDA 74886.
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