NGC 1097: Spiral Galaxy with a Central Eye (2009 July 27)

[neufer]

Explanation: What's happening at the center of spiral galaxy NGC 1097? No one is sure, but it likely involves a supermassive black hole. Matter falling in from a bar of stars and gas across the center is likely being heated by an extremely energetic region surrounding the central black hole. From afar, the entire central region appears in the above false-color infrared image as a mysterious eye. Near the left edge and seen in blue, a smaller companion galaxy is wrapped in the spectacular spiral arms of the large spiral, lit in pink by glowing dust. Currently about 40 thousand light-years from the larger galaxy's center, the gravity of the companion galaxy appears to be reshaping the larger galaxy as it is slowly being destroyed itself. NGC 1097 is located about 50 million light years away toward the constellation of the furnace (Fornax).>>

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Furnace, n. [OE. fornais, forneis, OF. fornaise, F. fournaise, from L. fornax; akin to furnus oven, and prob. to E. forceps.]

1. An inclosed place in which heat is produced by the combustion of fuel, as for reducing ores or melting metals, for warming a house, for baking pottery, etc.; as, an iron furnace; a hot-air furnace; a glass furnace; a boiler furnace.

2. A place or time of punishment, affiction, or great trial; severe experience or discipline.

• ----------------------------------------------
  . As You Like It > Act II, scene VII
  .
  JAQUES: And then the lover,
  . Sighing like furnace, with a woeful ballad
  . Made to his mistress' eyebrow.
  ----------------------------------------------
  . King Henry VIII > Act I, scene I
  .
  NORFOLK: Be advised;
  . Heat not a furnace for your foe so hot
  . That it do singe yourself: we may outrun,
  . By violent swiftness, that which we run at,
  . And lose by over-running.
  ----------------------------------------------

<<Fornax was identified by Nicolas Louis de Lacaille in 1756. He originally called it Fornax Chemica ("chemical furnace"), representing a small solid fuel heater used for heating chemical experiments.

Fornax has been the target of investigations into the furthest reaches of the universe.
The Hubble Ultra Deep Field is located within Fornax,
http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap070910.html
http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap040309.html

and the Fornax Cluster, a small cluster of galaxies, lies primarily within Fornax.
http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap040924.html
http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap030413.html

At a meeting of the Royal Astronomical Society in Britain, a team from University of Queensland described 40 unknown "dwarf" galaxies in this constellation; follow-up observations with the Hubble Space Telescope and the European Southern Observatory's Very Large Telescope revealed that Ultra Compact Dwarfs are much smaller than previously known dwarf galaxies, about 120 light-years across.
http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap040929.html

NGC 1316 is a notably bright elliptical galaxy within the Fornax Cluster.
The galaxy is also one of the brightest radio sources in the sky.
http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap080902.html
http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap050628.html
http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap050404.html >>

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[smita]

Would the spiral shape of the galaxy automatically imply that a black hole in the center is pulling the mass slowly towards it? Like an eye of a hurricane.

Thanks,
Smita

[neufer]

Would the spiral shape of the galaxy automatically imply that a black hole in the center is pulling the mass slowly towards it? Like an eye of a hurricane.

That would be highly unlikely, smita.

Any "whirlpool sucking center" would quickly remove matter at a much faster rate than it could be adequately replenished from the outside and there would be a noticeable material hole at the center just as there is a noticeable material hole at the center of a bathtub drain whirlpool and a low pressure at the center of a hurricane.

http://asterisk.apod.com/vie ... 97#p108617

[Indigo_Sunrise]

According to this article,

"The companion galaxy that looks as if it's playing peek-a-boo through the larger galaxy could have plunged through, poking a hole," Helou said. "But we don't know this for sure. It could also just happen to be aligned with a gap in the arms."

The description for today's APOD states, in part, "... the gravity of the companion galaxy appears to be reshaping the larger galaxy as it is slowly being destroyed itself."
My question is: can it be determined if the 'companion galaxy' actually does have a gravitational effect on NGC 1097? Or whether the companion it is just fortuitously aligned, leading to this spectacular view.

(*I suspect it may have something to do with red shifts of wavelengths(?), but I do not know enough about that.....)

TIA for any informative responses.

[neufer]

According to this article,

"The companion galaxy that looks as if it's playing peek-a-boo through the larger galaxy could have plunged through, poking a hole," Helou said. "But we don't know this for sure. It could also just happen to be aligned with a gap in the arms."

The description for today's APOD states, in part, "... the gravity of the companion galaxy appears to be reshaping the larger galaxy as it is slowly being destroyed itself."

My question is: can it be determined if the 'companion galaxy' actually does have a gravitational effect on NGC 1097? Or whether the companion it is just fortuitously aligned, leading to this spectacular view. (*I suspect it may have something to do with red shifts of wavelengths(?), but I do not know enough about that.....)

A 2006 APOD addresses this issue:

Explanation: A smaller companion seems wrapped in the spiral arms of enigmatic galaxy NGC 1097. The faint details revealed include hints of a mysterious jet emerging toward the top of the view. Seen to be about 42,000 light-years from the larger galaxy's center, the companion galaxy is gravitationally interacting with the spiral and will ultimately merge with it. NGC 1097's center also harbors a massive black hole. NGC 1097 is located about 45 million light-years away in the chemical constellation Fornax.

• The Spider and the Fly (1829) by Mary Howitt
  
  Will you walk into my parlour?" said the Spider to the Fly,
  'Tis the prettiest little parlour that ever you did spy;
  The way into my parlour is up a winding stair,
  And I've a many curious things to shew when you are there."
  Oh no, no," said the little Fly, "to ask me is in vain,
  For who goes up your winding stair can ne'er come down again."
  
  "I'm sure you must be weary, dear, with soaring up so high;
  Will you rest upon my little bed?" said the Spider to the Fly.
  "There are pretty curtains drawn around; the sheets are fine and thin,
  And if you like to rest awhile, I'll snugly tuck you in!"
  Oh no, no," said the little Fly, "for I've often heard it said,
  They never, never wake again, who sleep upon your bed!"
  
  Said the cunning Spider to the Fly, " Dear friend what can I do,
  To prove the warm affection I 've always felt for you?
  I have within my pantry, good store of all that's nice;
  I'm sure you're very welcome -- will you please to take a slice?"
  "Oh no, no," said the little Fly, "kind Sir, that cannot be,
  I've heard what's in your pantry, and I do not wish to see!"
  
  "Sweet creature!" said the Spider, "you're witty and you're wise,
  How handsome are your gauzy wings, how brilliant are your eyes!
  I've a little looking-glass upon my parlour shelf,
  If you'll step in one moment, dear, you shall behold yourself."
  "I thank you, gentle sir," she said, "for what you 're pleased to say,
  And bidding you good morning now, I'll call another day."
  
  The Spider turned him round about, and went into his den,
  For well he knew the silly Fly would soon come back again:
  So he wove a subtle web, in a little corner sly,
  And set his table ready, to dine upon the Fly.
  Then he came out to his door again, and merrily did sing,
  "Come hither, hither, pretty Fly, with the pearl and silver wing;
  Your robes are green and purple -- there's a crest upon your head;
  Your eyes are like the diamond bright, but mine are dull as lead!"
  
  Alas, alas! how very soon this silly little Fly,
  Hearing his wily, flattering words, came slowly flitting by;
  With buzzing wings she hung aloft, then near and nearer drew,
  Thinking only of her brilliant eyes, and green and purple hue --
  Thinking only of her crested head -- poor foolish thing! At last,
  Up jumped the cunning Spider, and fiercely held her fast.
  He dragged her up his winding stair, into his dismal den,
  Within his little parlour -- but she ne'er came out again!

[DavidLeodis]

It is a superb image. I get a feeling that we are being watched from afar! Though probably not I'm not sure if I should be or .

[neufer]

It is a superb image. I get a feeling that we are being watched from afar!
Though probably not I'm not sure if I should be or .

[emc]

This is such a cool APOD!

It looks like the bar is rotating faster than the spiral arms based on the “strings” of stars that are forming a sort of web from the arm to the bar. Interesting how the web strings follow an almost straight line. Is this the result of two galaxies merging?

Perhaps this is more of that fantastic alien cosmic industrial engineering designed to creep us humans out. "Eyes watching us from afar!" As if to warn us to conduct ourselves in a manner appeasing to their obvious technical superiority... Why don't they just get it over with?