Andromeda Galaxy
Prelims:
Science & Technology
Mains:
GS Paper III-Science and Technology
Current relevance:
Astronomers have used data from the Hubble Space Telescope to
create the clearest map yet of star formation across most of the Andromeda
Galaxy over the last 500 million years, revealing a steady decline in
star-forming activity.
At a glance:
1.
The study
found that Andromeda's star formation rate has been steadily
declining, with the sharpest decline occurring during the last 40 million
years.
2. Recent star formation is mainly concentrated within
the galaxy's ring structures, where the decline is also most evident.
3. Researchers
identified a ‘dead zone’ near M32, a satellite galaxy of Andromeda, where new star formation
has nearly ceased, indicating that the satellite galaxy likely interacted
with or passed through Andromeda’s stellar disc, disrupting the gas clouds
needed to form new stars.
4. The findings suggest that Andromeda is
transitioning from an active, star-forming galaxy to a quieter 'middle-age'
phase, gradually moving toward a more quiescent state.
5. Significance:
Studying
Andromeda's evolution can help improve our understanding of the life cycle
of massive galaxies and develop better methods to measure changes in
distant galaxies.
6. About Andromeda Galaxy:
i.
It is largest
galaxy in the Local Group and the
nearest major spiral galaxy to the Milky Way.
ii.
Located about 2.5
million light-years from Earth and is approximately 2–2.5 times
wider than the Milky Way.
iii.
Classified as
a spiral galaxy with a bright central bulge, spiral arms, and ring
structures.
Source:
THE HINDU - https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/science/andromeda-galaxy-entering-middle-age/article71276485.ece