New Discovery Re NGC 4622

[dmill1220]

Hello everyone!

I ran across a very interesting post on another forum and I thought I would share this discovery with our members here.

Apparently Scientists have discovered that NGC 4622 has spiral arms that are rotating in the same direction but it has spiral arms that show winding in the opposite direction, Wave densities in Spiral arms are supposed to be responsible for star formation, the puzzle is why does NGC4622 have both trailing and leading arms both moving in the same direction. Something very interesting is definitely going on or has happened with this Galaxy.
UA_Astronomers_on_Team_Describing_New_Evidence_of_ Inconvenient_Galaxy

Any thoughts on this discovery?
A Possible past Galactic merger?

Dennis

[Darryl]

I've thought about this for a few minutes and if it is really one galaxy then things just don't add up. I can't comprehend how one galaxy could have sets of spirals opposing each other. Even a merger of some sort sounds unlikely based on how tight and well formed this single galaxy appears to be. A merger would be interacting in a much more destructive force to at least one of the galaxies. On a long shot maybe there is an object in the foreground skewing the available data.

[dmill1220]

Hi Darryl,

It is puzzling isn't it?
I would think that they would have tried to rule that out also, It would be sad if they haven't thought of measuring Redshifts on either side of the Galaxy's spiral arm structure to determine if it is just a long shot.

Another great puzzle in Galaxy formation, I believe the key lies in the wave density structure of this Galaxy's spiral arms , I have been wondering if it could be a result of some sort of oscillation resonance of the density waves, as they bounce back and forth, interacting with some unknown force.
I cant wait to hear more about this one.

By the way, its good to hear from you my friend.


Dennis

[Blue Fire]

Ya just gotta love mysteries like this! Sounds like a classic example of new discoveries raising more questions than they solve. I'll be watching for more developments on this story too.

[Darryl]

Originally Posted by dmill1220

Hi Darryl,
By the way, its good to hear from you my friend.
Dennis

Hi Dennis,

I was also glad to see you show up a few days ago. I hadn't seen you around in a little while. I was hoping everything was well with you.

[dmill1220]

Originally Posted by Darryl

Hi Dennis,

I was also glad to see you show up a few days ago. I hadn't seen you around in a little while. I was hoping everything was well with you.

Thanks Darryl,

I'm still kicking it!

I have had terrible weather for quite a while, so I haven't been imaging much lately, but I have been working on a new heated waterproof enclosure for my laptop, and I also have installed a heating resistor in my Telerad for my 12 inch Dob.
I've been keeping busy with small projects.

Tonight it's supposed to be well below zero, just way too windy and cold for my bones, I should quit whining! lol, as soon as my wife gets me some cheese for my whine I will get back out there again.

I'm also working on a portable device to help keep my feet warm, for when I do get out, especially to this years Freeze Your Buns Event this coming February around new Moon, at Our Clubs Observatory.

Oh Boy I almost forgot, about the best news I have had in a long time, my MS is in full remission!

Dennis

[dmill1220]

Hi Folks,

I have found some more information regardng this weird spiral structure, it can be found here, Buta, Byrd, & Freeman, NGC 4622

There is supposed to be a more detailed article on the Hubble.Org site that has been mentioned on another forum, but I was unable to find that article, I have asked the OP to provide a direct link to the article which reportedly cites a previous merger as the culprit.
does anyone else have any info regarding this discovery?


Dennis

[Blue Fire]

Originally Posted by dmill1220

. . .
cheese for my whine . . .

Good one! lol

Yesterday, I was going to ask about whether the leading outer spiral arms would persist now that they are well formed, but I got the answer from the link in your last post, Dennis.

The leading arms may be allowed to persist because NGC 4622 is dark halo dominated (i.e., not "maximum disk" in the inner regions) and displays a significantly rising rotation curve.

Thanks! And glad to hear you are feeling well and have a grip on the MS!!