Recent sky observations by astronomers yielded an unexpected result. In an unexplored area of our galaxy, they found a sizable galaxy. It seemed to materialize out of nowhere.
Therefore, how did the galaxy, known as Crater 2, accomplish this accomplishment, similar to a deer leaping from cosmic bushes to stare down our group of headlights? Crater 2 had been there the entire time, despite the appearance that he just appeared. We just shrugged it off.
However, now that we are aware of its existence, astronomers have found a few more degrading characteristics. We cannot, for a start, explain the galaxy's relative obscurity by its vastness. Due to its enormous size, Crater 2 has already been ranked as the fourth largest galaxy in the orbit of our galaxy. Also, we cannot blame its remoteness. Since Crater 2 orbits the Milky Way, it is directly overhead.
So how did we manage to miss it after all that? An answer to this question can be found in a recent article by University of Cambridge researchers that was published in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society. Even though it is close and large, Crater 2 is nevertheless a fairly dark galaxy. It is one of the smallest galaxies ever found, in fact. This, together with a number of noticeably brighter neighbors, allowed the galaxy known as "the feeble giant" to go undiscovered until the present.
But after seeing Crater 2, the finding makes us
wonder if there is anything else out there. The idea of beginning a search for
such large, black galaxies nearby has previously been floated by researchers.
It's a great reminder that there are still many things in space that we don't
fully understand.
Reference(s): Peer-Reviewed Research Paper
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