Messier Index/M32

Messier 32 275px Dwarf Elliptical Galaxy M32 w:J2000 cE2NASA/IPAC Extragalactic Database Results for NGC 221 http://nedwww.ipac.caltech.edu/ 2006-11-29 00 42 41.8 +40 51 55 2.49 ± 0.08 Mly (763 ± 24 kpc)A a -200 ± 6 km/s 9.0 8′.7 × 6′.5 Andromeda w:satellite galaxy of thew:Andromeda Galaxy M 32, NGC 221, UGC 452, PGC 2555, Arp 168, LEDA 2555 thumb|Another photo Messier 32 (also known as NGC 221 and w:Le Gentil) is a w:dwarf elliptical galaxy about 2.65 million w:light-years away in the w:constellation Andromeda. M32 is a w:satellite galaxy of the famous w:Andromeda Galaxy (M31) and was discovered by w:Le Gentil in w:1749. M32 measures only 6.5 ± 0.2 klyDiameter = distance × sin(diameter_angle) = 6.5 ± 0.2 kly. diameter in diameter at the widest point. Like most w:elliptical galaxies, M32 contains mostly older faint red and yellow stars with practically no dust or gas and consequently no current w:star formation. Kepple George Robert Glen W. Sanner The Night Sky Observer's Guide, Volume 1 Willmann-Bell, Inc. 1998 0-943396-58-1 17 It does, however, show hints of star formation in the relatively recent past. The structure and stellar content of M32 is difficult to explain by traditional w:galaxy formation models. Recent simulations suggest a new scenario in which the strong tidal field of M31 can transform a w:spiral galaxy into a compact elliptical. As a small spiral galaxy falls into the central parts of M31, most of the outer layers of the smaller spiral are stripped away. The central bulge of the galaxy is much less affected and retains its morphology. Tidal effects trigger a massive star burst in the core, resulting in the high density of M32 we observe today.Bekki, Kenji; Couch, Warrick J.; Drinkwater, Michael J.; Gregg, Michael D. A New Formation Model for M32: A Threshed Early-Type Spiral Galaxy? The Astrophysical Journal 2001 557 L39 http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2001ApJ...557L..39B 10.1086/323075 There is also evidence that M32 has an outer disk.Graham, A. W. Evidence for an Outer Disk in the Prototype Compact Elliptical Galaxy M32 The Astrophysical Journal Letters 2002 568 L13 http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2002ApJ...568L..13G 10.1086/340274 Distance measurements At least two techniques have been used to measure distances to M32. The infrared w:surface brightness fluctuations distance measurement technique estimates distances to spiral galaxies based on the graininess of the appearance of their bulges. The distance measured to M32 using this technique is 2.46 ± 0.09 Mly (755 ± 28 kpc).Jensen, Joseph B.; Tonry, John L.; Barris, Brian J.; Thompson, Rodger I.; Liu, Michael C.; Rieke, Marcia J.; Ajhar, Edward A.; Blakeslee, John P. Measuring Distances and Probing the Unresolved Stellar Populations of Galaxies Using Infrared Surface Brightness Fluctuations Astrophysical Journal February 2003 583 2 712–726 http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2003ApJ...583..712J 10.1086/345430 However, M32 is close enough that the w:tip of the red giant branch (TRGB) method may be used to estimate its distance. The estimated distance to M32 using this technique is 2.51 ± 0.13 Mly (770 ± 40 kpc).I. D. Karachentsev, V. E. Karachentseva, W. K. Hutchmeier, D. I. Makarov A Catalog of Neighboring Galaxies Astronomical Journal 2004 127 2031–2068 http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2004AJ....127.2031K 10.1086/382905Karachentsev, I. D.; Kashibadze, O. G. Masses of the local group and of the M81 group estimated from distortions in the local velocity field Astrophysics 2006 49 1 3–18 http://adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-bib_query?bibcode=2006Ap.....49....3K 10.1007/s10511-006-0002-6 Averaged together, these distance measurements give a distance estimate of 2.49 ± 0.08 Mly (763 ± 24 kpc).B b A recent paper argues that M32 may actually be a normal (non-dwarf) galaxy that is actually three times farther away, outside the w:Local Group.Young, K. S. et al. (2008), A critical review of the evidence for M32 being a compact dwarf satellite of M31 rather than a more distant normal galaxy Notes ABaverage(755 ± 28, 770 ± 40) = ((755 + 770) / 2) ± ((282 + 402)0.5 / 2) = 763 ± 24 References External links Messier 32 SEDS: Elliptical Galaxy M32