Peculiar galaxy

ESO 162-17 is an example of a peculiar galaxy which is 40 million light-years away in the constellation Carina.

A peculiar galaxy is a galaxy of unusual size, shape, or composition.[1] Between five and ten percent of known galaxies are categorized as peculiar.[2] Astronomers have identified two types of peculiar galaxies: interacting galaxies and active galactic nuclei (AGN).[3]

When two galaxies come close to each other, their mutual gravitational forces can cause them to acquire highly irregular shapes.[4] The terms 'peculiar galaxy' and 'interacting galaxy' have now become synonymous because the majority of peculiar galaxies attribute their forms to such gravitational forces.[2]

  1. ^ "peculiar galaxy". Daviddarling.info. 2007-02-01. Retrieved 2012-08-14.
  2. ^ a b Higdon, James L (2001). "Peculiar Galaxies". The Encyclopedia of Astronomy and Astrophysics. doi:10.1888/0333750888/2626. ISBN 0333750888.
  3. ^ "Peculiar Galaxies". www.cliffsnotes.com. Retrieved 2016-12-05.
  4. ^ Millis, John P. "Peculiar Galaxies". space.about.com. About.com. Archived from the original on 18 December 2014. Retrieved 17 December 2014.