Top 10 Strangest Galaxies In The Universe

Our Galaxy the Milky Way is one the billions of galaxies which exists in the observable universe. However, some of the other galaxies in the universe are quite strange compared to Milky Way. Here is the list of the strangest galaxies in the universe.

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10. Tadpole Galaxy

Tadpole Galaxy is located at a distance of 420 million light years from earth. The Galaxy is a disrupted barred spiral galaxy located in the constellation Draco. This galaxy has a tail which is 280000 light years long. The unusual tail shape of this galaxy is due to the fact that it was merged with a smaller galaxy about 100 million years ago.

9. Black Eye Galaxy

Black Eye Galaxy is a spiral galaxy located at a distance of 17 million light years from earth. The galaxy is located in the constellation of Coma Berenices. The bright nucleus of the galaxy makes it appear like a black eye. The unusual appearance of this galaxy may be due to collision with a nearby satellite galaxy.

8. Southern Pinwheel Galaxy (NGC 5236)

Southern Pinwheel Galaxy (NGC 5236) is a barred spiral galaxy located at a distance of 15 million light years. Nicolas Louis de Lacaille first observed the galaxy in 1752. This galaxy is one of the brightest in the sky. The galaxy most likely interacted with NGC 5223 a nearby galaxy which resulted in star formation in its central region.

7. Sombrero Galaxy

Sombrero Galaxy is a lenticular galaxy located in the constellation of Virgo. It is located at a distance of 31.1 million light years from earth. The galaxy is roughly one third the size of Milky Way. The galaxy has a bulge in its central region. This galaxy got its name from Sombrero as its central bulge appears like a sombrero which is a type of hat.

6. Centaurus A (NGC 5128)

Centaurus A (NGC 5128) is a galaxy located at a distance of 10-16 million light years from earth. The galaxy may be a lenticular or elliptical galaxy. Centaurus A has an active galactic nucleus which ejects a relativistic jet which also makes it the fifth brightest object in the sky. The relativistic jets of X-ray are thousands of light years longs and radio waves are million light years long.

5. NGC 474

NGC 474 is a galaxy located at a distance of approximately 100 million light years in the constellation Pisces. This galaxy is known for its tidal tails which is a thin elongated region of stars and gas which extends into space. The origin of these tidal tails is still unknown.

4. Antennae Galaxies (NGC 4038/NGC 4039)

Antennae Galaxies (NGC 4038/NGC 4039) are located at a distance of 45 and 65 million light years from earth. These galaxies are a pair of interacting galaxies. These two galaxies were distant from each other but around 600 million years ago both of these galaxies collided with each other and in 400 million year they will combine to form a single galaxy.

3. NGC 660

NGC 660 is a peculiar and unique polar ring galaxy located at a distance of 45 million light years from earth in the constellation of Pisces. This galaxy formed around a billion years ago when two galaxies collided with each other. The unusual shape of this galaxy might be due to first galaxy catching the material from the second nearby passing galaxy.

2. IC 1101

IC 1101 is a galaxy located at a distance of 1.04 billion light years from earth. The strange thing about this galaxy is that it is the biggest galaxy ever observed in the universe. IC 1101 is also one of the brightest galaxies. Although, it is debated the size of this galaxy is around 2000000 light years. Just for size comparison Milky Way is around 150000-200000 light years in diameter which makes IC 1101 one of the biggest galaxy in the universe.

1. Hoag’s object

Hoag’s object is a ring galaxy located at a distance of around 600 million light years from earth. This galaxy was discovered in 1950 by Arthur Hoag. Most of the ring galaxies are formed from collision of two galaxies however; there is no remnant of other galaxy present in Hoag’s object. The formation of this galaxy still remains a mystery.

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