NGC 2770
Encyclopedia
NGC 2770 is a type SASc spiral galaxy
located about 88 million light years away, in the constellation Lynx
.
It has been referred to as the 'Supernova Factory' as three supernova
s have occurred there recently: SN 1999eh, SN 2007uy
, and SN 2008D
. The last of these is famous for being the first supernova detected by the X-Ray
s released very early on in its formation, rather than by the optical light
emitted during the later stages, which allowed the first moments of the outburst to be observed. It is possible that NGC 2770's interactions with a suspected companion galaxy may have created the massive stars causing this activity.
NGC 2770 was also the target for the first binocular image produced by the Large Binocular Telescope
.
Spiral galaxy
A spiral galaxy is a certain kind of galaxy originally described by Edwin Hubble in his 1936 work The Realm of the Nebulae and, as such, forms part of the Hubble sequence. Spiral galaxies consist of a flat, rotating disk containing stars, gas and dust, and a central concentration of stars known as...
located about 88 million light years away, in the constellation Lynx
Lynx (constellation)
Lynx is a constellation in the northern sky, introduced in the 17th century by Johannes Hevelius. It is named after the lynx, a genus of cat. It is a very faint constellation; its brightest stars form a zigzag line.-History:...
.
It has been referred to as the 'Supernova Factory' as three supernova
Supernova
A supernova is a stellar explosion that is more energetic than a nova. It is pronounced with the plural supernovae or supernovas. Supernovae are extremely luminous and cause a burst of radiation that often briefly outshines an entire galaxy, before fading from view over several weeks or months...
s have occurred there recently: SN 1999eh, SN 2007uy
SN 2007uy
SN 2007UY was a supernova that occurred in the spiral galaxy NGC 2770. It was discovered by Yoji Hirose on December 31, 2007. While interesting in its own right, it was overshadowed by SN 2008D, a supernova whose burst was observed serendipitously while SN 2007UY was being studied by Swift,...
, and SN 2008D
SN 2008D
SN 2008D is a supernova detected with NASA's Swift X-ray telescope. The explosion of the supernova precursor star, in the spiral galaxy NGC 2770 SN 2008D is a supernova detected with NASA's Swift X-ray telescope. The explosion of the supernova precursor star, in the spiral galaxy NGC 2770 SN 2008D...
. The last of these is famous for being the first supernova detected by the X-Ray
X-ray
X-radiation is a form of electromagnetic radiation. X-rays have a wavelength in the range of 0.01 to 10 nanometers, corresponding to frequencies in the range 30 petahertz to 30 exahertz and energies in the range 120 eV to 120 keV. They are shorter in wavelength than UV rays and longer than gamma...
s released very early on in its formation, rather than by the optical light
Light
Light or visible light is electromagnetic radiation that is visible to the human eye, and is responsible for the sense of sight. Visible light has wavelength in a range from about 380 nanometres to about 740 nm, with a frequency range of about 405 THz to 790 THz...
emitted during the later stages, which allowed the first moments of the outburst to be observed. It is possible that NGC 2770's interactions with a suspected companion galaxy may have created the massive stars causing this activity.
NGC 2770 was also the target for the first binocular image produced by the Large Binocular Telescope
Large Binocular Telescope
Large Binocular Telescope is an optical telescope for astronomy located on Mount Graham in the Pinaleno Mountains of southeastern Arizona, and is a part of the Mount Graham International Observatory...
.