New Delhi:
Scientists have discovered a bizarre 'Frankenstein' galaxy, which they believe was possibly formed from the parts of other galaxies, located about 250 million light-years away. The new study has unveiled the secret of UGC 1382, a galaxy that had originally been thought to be old, small and typical.
By using data from NASA telescopes and other observatories scientists have discovered that the galaxy is 10 times bigger than previously thought and, unlike most galaxies, its insides are younger than its outsides, almost as if it had been built using spare parts.
“This rare, 'Frankenstein' galaxy formed and is able to survive because it lies in a quiet little suburban neighbourhood of the universe, where none of the hubbub of the more crowded parts can bother it,” said Mark Seibert from Carnegie Institution for Science in the US.
“It is so delicate that a slight nudge from a neighbor would cause it to disintegrate,” Seibert said.
Though scientists say that they came upon this galaxy by accident. UGC 1382, at about 718,000 light-years across, is more than seven times wider than the Milky Way, according to scientists’ findings.
It is also noteworthy that center of UGC 1382 is younger than the spiral disk surrounding it. It's old on the outside and young on the inside. The study will be published in the Astrophysical Journal.
