Hubble Observes Little-Know Dwarf Elliptical Galaxy | Astronomy – Sci-News.com
Astronomers using the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope have obtained a remarkable view of the dwarf galaxy LEDA 29388.
This Hubble image shows the dwarf elliptical galaxy LEDA 29388. Image credit: NASA / ESA / Hubble / T. Armandroff.
LEDA 29388 is located some 12 million light-years away in the constellation of Ursa Major.
Otherwise known as UGC 5442, KDG 64 and Mailyan 50, this galaxy is a member of the M81 group of galaxies and is situated in the central region of the group.
LEDA 29388 is dominated by a population of ancient stars approximately 12-14 billion years old.
It also contains a small fraction of younger stars with ages between 2.5 billion and 500 million years old.
“This spotlight-hogging galaxy, seen set against a backdrop of more distant galaxies of all shapes and sizes, is known as LEDA 29388,” Hubble astronomers said.
“Although it dominates in this image, LEDA 29388 is a small player on the cosmic stage, and is known as a dwarf elliptical galaxy.”
“As the ‘dwarf’ moniker suggests, the galaxy is on the smaller side,” they explained.
“It boasts a ‘mere’ 100 million to a few billion stars — a very small number indeed when compared to the Milky Way’s population of around 250 to 400 billion stellar residents.”
The object in the center of LEDA 29388 is known to be a background spiral galaxy.
