ESO 306-17

ESO 306-17 is a fossil group giant elliptical galaxy in the Columba constellation, about 1 million light-years in diameter, and 493 million light-years away.[1]

ESO 306-17
Observation data
ConstellationColumba
Right ascension05h 40m 06.67s
Declination−40° 50 11.4
Redshift0.035805
Apparent magnitude (V)13.33
Characteristics
TypecD3
Apparent size (V)2.5 arcsec
Other designations
ESO 306-17 , ESO 306-G017 , ESO-LV 306-0170 , LEDA 17570 , AM 0538-405 , MCG-07-12-009

The galaxy is situated alone in a volume of space about it. It is theorized that the galaxy cannibalized its nearest companions, hence, being a fossil group.[2] The galaxy is a giant elliptical of type cD3 (E+3), one of the largest classes of galaxies.

References

  1. MSNBC, "A Giant Among Galaxies ?" , Alan Boyle, 4 March 2010 (accessed 5 March 2010)
  2. Astronomy Now, "Bully galaxy rules the neighbourhood", Emily Baldwin, 4 March 2010 (accessed 5 March 2010)


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