m12_galaxyzoo
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School
Ball State University *
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Course
100
Subject
Astronomy
Date
Jan 9, 2024
Type
docx
Pages
4
Uploaded by ColonelBoulder4501
Galaxy Zoo Worksheet
For this activity, you will be classifying and examining images of galaxies that were captured by
the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS).
Navigate to the
Galaxy Zoo website
, and click on the yellow
Begin Classifying
button. You will be
presented with an image and begin answering a short series of questions aimed at helping you
characterize the galaxy in the center of the image. After answering all of the questions, you’ll
immediately be presented with a new image.
Note:
You will be asked if you’d like to discuss the
image before moving on to the next one. If you have an account with Galaxy Zoo, you can use
this feature, but it is not required.
Your task is to
find five unique galaxies
and classify them below. Make sure your written
content is well-developed, proof-read, and polished. Also make sure it is free from spelling and
grammatical errors. For each galaxy, you will:
1.
Include a screen shot from Galaxy Zoo (see
Inserting Images Into a Worksheet
for help
with this).
2.
Identify the galaxy type (Elliptical, Spiral, Peculiar, Irregular).
3.
Briefly describe any distinguishing features in the galaxy (bars, jets, ring, etc.)
4.
Make one prediction or conclusion about the galaxy’s age, formation, or evolution based
on the image.
After characterizing each of the five galaxies you’ve chosen, you will answer two “Big Questions”
that will require you to think about the structure and location of these galaxies.
Galaxy #1
(7 points)
Galaxy Type:
Spiral galaxy
Distinguishing Features:
This image shows a strong bar, with a small bulge in the middle of this
galaxy. We can also see two somewhat defined tendrils.
Prediction/Conclusion: This spiral galaxy has some defined tendrils and shows us the bulge where
its older stars reside. We can assume this is an older galaxy with redder stars in the bulge and
blue stars in the tendrils.
Galaxy #2
(7 points)
Galaxy Type:
Elliptical galaxy
Distinguishing Features:
This galaxy has a strong bar and is smooth, it appears to have some
clumps near it.
Prediction/Conclusion:
Older galaxy because it’s an elliptical galaxy, the young massive stats
exploded leaving behind old red stars.
Galaxy #3
(7 points)
Galaxy Type:
elliptical
Distinguishing Features:
This galaxy has a cigar shape and is merging with another galaxy. We
can see a center bulge but appears to be smooth.
Prediction/Conclusion:
Due to the this being an elliptical galaxy there is a good chance it was
formed by a galactic collision. Two or more galaxies would have collided over time leaving the
stars to get drawn out and causing the long cigar like shape.
Galaxy #4
(7 points)
Galaxy Type:
elliptical
Distinguishing Features:
In this image we see a center bulge, and the galaxy appears to be
overlapping with other galaxies. There is also a ring around this galaxy.
Prediction/Conclusion:
This being an elliptical galaxy tells me that it’s an older galaxy and does
not have any young stars, we can also assume that it was formed because of a galactic collision.
Galaxy #5
(7 points)
Galaxy Type:
spiral
Distinguishing Features:
In this image we see a galaxy with a weak bar, weak spiral arms and
rings surrounding it.
Prediction/Conclusion:
This spiral galaxy can be assumed to be an active galaxy, with younger
stars sitting in the tendrils and older redder starts sitting in the bulge.
Big Questions
1.
Is there any evidence in the images you provided that a galaxy might be part of a cluster or
super cluster? If yes, what is your evidence? If no, what would you expect to see that you
don’t? Make sure your written content is well-developed, proof-read, and polished. Also make
sure it is free from spelling and grammatical errors. (5 points)
I would assume that all the images are part of a cluster or supercluster. I would assume this
because none of the galaxies are alone, we can see other stars and galaxies in the
background even if they aren’t merging. We also know that most galaxies are a part of a
cluster and with the limited distance we can see I do not think we would be able to see
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outside of our own super cluster galaxy, the Virgo supercluster (and possibly the Laniakea
supercluster)
2.
Most likely, all the galaxies you chose have a black hole at their centers. Briefly describe the
role that black holes play in the structure of galaxies. Make sure your written content is well-
developed, proof-read, and polished. Also make sure it is free from spelling and grammatical
errors. (5 points)
Black holes are surprisingly important to the structure of galaxies. It is thought that almost
every large galaxy has a black hole at the center. Black holes are the powerhouse for a
galaxy, the energy they emit is absorbed by the galaxy and allows it to function. As matter
and gas fall into the black hole is grows getting stronger and sending out more energy and
increasing its gravitational pull. In turn the galaxy absorbs this energy and is shaped by the
pull of the black hole.