2024-07-29 08:11:47
This image from the Hubble Telescope shows IC 3430, a dwarf elliptical galaxy in the Virgo constellation. Despite lacking distinctive structural features, IC 3430 exhibits signs of recent star formation at its core, an unusual characteristic for its type, attributed to the ram pressure effects within the Virgo cluster. Credit: ESA/Hubble & NASA, M. Sun
IC 3430, a dwarf elliptical galaxy in the Virgo cluster, stands out due to its core of hot blue stars, indicating recent star formation—a rare feature for its type, likely caused by its movement within the cluster.
This The full and uncut view from Hubble of IC 3430. Credit: ESA/Hubble & NASA, M. Sun
Dwarf galaxies are essentially just galaxies that do not have many stars, typically less than a billion, but often this is enough for them to miniaturize those same forms as larger galaxies. There are dwarf elliptical galaxies like IC 3430, dwarf irregular galaxies, dwarf spherical galaxies, and even dwarf spiral galaxies! What is referred to as the Magellanic spiral is a distinct type of dwarf galaxy, with the best example being the well-known Magellanic Clouds.