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They have spiral arms, with blue regions representing active star formation, and yellowish regions populated with old stars where star formation has ceased. Giant elliptical galaxies are the largest, spherical to
nearly flat in shape, and are yellowish in hue because they are populated with old stars where star formation has nearly ceased. These are usually a result of mergers and collisions between galaxies. IC 1101 is a
giant elliptical. Now let’s get to the how—how IC 1101 became so large, that is. The size of IC 1101 is the
result of numerous collisions and mergers between other much smaller galaxies, galaxies about the size
of our very own Milky Way, and our familiar galactic neighbor Andromeda. Over time, it grew bigger and
bigger as it continued to merge with neighboring galaxies. Now, as we see it, it is nearly a monstrous 6
million light-years across! Keep in mind that at 1.07 billion light years distant, we are looking at IC 1101 as
it looked just over a billion years ago. Who’s to say what its size is today, or what its state is, for that matter!
If it hasn’t continued colliding and merging with other galaxies, its stars will fade, as there is very little star
formation occurring. If it has, then it’ll be even larger!
Speaking of mergers and collisions, aren’t Andromeda and our very own Milky Way destined for the same
fate some 3.5 billion years from now, merging into one elliptical galaxy?? Food for thought.
~Sophia Nasr
Further reading and information on IC 1101:
http://astounde.com/the-largest-galaxy-in-the-universe-ic-1101/
http://www.fromquarkstoquasars.com/ic-1101-the-largest-galaxy-ever-found/
http://amandabauer.blogspot.ca/2009/02/biggest-galaxy-in-universe.html
http://astrobob.areavoices.com/2013/07/14/munchkin-milky-way-meets-mega-monster-galaxy-ic-1101/
5 minute video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UE8yHySiJ4A
“All Science, All the Time”: https://www.facebook.com/AllScienceAllTheTime
ICY SCIENCE | WINTER 2013- 2014