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NGC 1700:
Giant X-Ray Disk Sheds Light On Galactic Merger
The Chandra image of the elliptical galaxy NGC 1700
shows a flattened oval of multi-million degree gas,
supporting the idea that it is the result of a merger
of two smaller galaxies about 3 billion years ago. To
the lower right, another version of the Chandra image
shows only the low-energy X-rays and reveals a giant
inner disk. This disk of 6-million degree gas appears
light blue in the multicolor image above.
The disk is 90,000 light years in diameter - roughly
two-thirds the diameter of the Milky Way Galaxy -
making it the largest disk of hot gas known.
Analysis of the structure of the disk shows that it is
rotating and appears to be cooling. The existence of a
large, rotating disk of hot gas suggests that NGC 1700
was created by the merger of a rotating spiral galaxy
and an elliptical galaxy containing hot gas.
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Fast Facts for NGC
1700:
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Credit
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NASA/Ohio U./T.Statler et al.
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Scale
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Image is 3.9 arcmin per side
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Category
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Normal
Galaxies & Starburst Galaxies |
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Coordinates
(J2000)
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RA 04 56 56.30 Dec -04 51 52.00
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Constellation
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Eridanus
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Observation
Date
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November 3, 2000
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Observation
Time
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12 hours
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Obs.
ID
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2069
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Color
Code
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Energy: Blue (low), Red (high)
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Instrument
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ACIS
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Distance
Estimate
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About 160 million light years
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Release Date
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December 18, 2002
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