Infrared Wavelengths Make Galaxies Look Bigger

According to a recent infrared study of the Triangulum Galaxy, also known as M33, our “neighbor” appears to be larger than its observations in visible light have suggested until now. The new measurements have been conducted with NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope, which specializes in resolving infrared images. M33 is part of a cluster of galaxies close to the Milky Way, known as the Local Group. Astronomers have said in a recent statement that the actual size of the galaxy may have eluded them, and that the formation is definitely worth more studies, maybe even in the full wavelength spectrum.

What has made Spitzer qualified for this type of observation is the fact that the observatory is able to detect and see through cold and dark dust, which apparently exists all around the Triangulum Galaxy, even in areas that have been thought to belong to the Interstellar Medium (ISM) before. Mission controllers for the telescope share that they have detected abnormal gas and dust formations emanating from the galaxy in areas well beyond its disk, but add that they have no strong explanation for the phenomenon at this time.

One possible reason, they explain, could be that the debris were thrown out of the galactic body on account of high activities of stellar winds, or maybe even repeating supernovas. In addition to being able to “starve” black holes to death, supernovas can also push matter away from areas surrounding them, and thus create a vacuum of sorts, which prevents black holes from accreting more matter, as well as stellar nurseries from forming more stars.

All galaxies that can be found in the Local Group, including the Milky Way, are held together by strong gravitational forces, which means that the chances of collisions between them are relatively good. Over its existence, our own galaxy has engulfed numerous smaller ones, as astronomical pieces of evidence seem to suggest. However, we may meet our match, at least in terms of size, in the Andromeda galaxy, which also appears to be bigger than first thought. The collision between the two will be catastrophic for both.