A rare class found in the most ancient spiral galaxy

Researchers have shown that formed 2.6 billion years after the Big Bang A1689B11 is the most ancient spiral galaxy in space.

Astronomers have confirmed that galaxy A1689B11, which was formed after 2.6 billion years after the Big Bang, is the oldest known spiral galaxy. The researchers ‘ findings were published in The Astrophysical Journal.

“In the course of the study, the researchers observed the galaxy with a spectrograph (NIFS) at the Gemini Observatory. Details to explore such a distant galaxy helped that the brightness A1689B11 was reinforced by the gravitational lens — large and massive galaxy cluster Abell 1689”, – says the publication.

As a result, the researchers were able to detect a primitive, yet only incipient spiral arms of the galaxy. According to scientists, A1689B11 belongs to the rare class of ancient spiral galaxies that have started to form a thin disk — one of the components of galactic structure.

Previously, astronomers have noticed that a small galaxy located in the Sculptor group, is gradually destroyed by the gravitational influence of a giant galaxy, situated right next door to hers.

The newly discovered galaxy belongs to a class of dwarf spheroidal galaxies, but, unlike other such galaxies, it has an elongated shape, is directed towards NGC 253. This form of the galaxy may indicate that it affects the gravitational influence of a larger galaxy, which acts more strongly on the near side.

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