GZOD: An Arrow Through A Galactic Heart

See new, spectacular, or mysterious sky images.
Post Reply
JeanTate
Ad Astra
Posts: 114
Joined: Wed Sep 08, 2010 12:35 am

GZOD: An Arrow Through A Galactic Heart

Post by JeanTate » Mon Oct 25, 2010 10:03 pm

Image

The object goes by the incredibly simple name of SDSS J233604.13+000440.6 (not!), but I think 'arrow pierced galaxy' is better.

It's featured in the Galaxy Zoo Object of the Day, stardate 22nd October, 2010, by Lightbulb500. As far as I know, it has not yet been APODed.

User avatar
Ann
4725 Å
Posts: 13833
Joined: Sat May 29, 2010 5:33 am

Re: GZOD: An Arrow Through A Galactic Heart

Post by Ann » Tue Oct 26, 2010 11:29 am

Wow!

It sure looks like (an admittedly very strange) polar ring galaxy to me, but you have to wonder why the "ring" appears to "blow away" like smoke above the galaxy, and why there is such a very, very strange orange "appendix" hanging down from the tummy of it.

Yes indeed, perhaps it has been shot - or pierced!

Ann
Color Commentator

User avatar
neufer
Vacationer at Tralfamadore
Posts: 18805
Joined: Mon Jan 21, 2008 1:57 pm
Location: Alexandria, Virginia

Re: GZOD: An Arrow Through A Galactic Heart

Post by neufer » Tue Oct 26, 2010 1:53 pm

Ann wrote:
Wow! It sure looks like (an admittedly very strange) polar ring galaxy to me, but you have to wonder why the "ring" appears to "blow away" like smoke above the galaxy, and why there is such a very, very strange orange "appendix" hanging down from the tummy of it.

Yes indeed, perhaps it has been shot - or pierced!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ecstasy_of_Saint_Theresa wrote:
"I saw in his hand a long spear of gold, and at the iron's point there seemed to be a little fire. He appeared to me to be thrusting it at times into my heart, and to pierce my very entrails; when he drew it out, he seemed to draw them out also, and to leave me all on fire with a great love of God. The pain was so great, that it made me moan; and yet so surpassing was the sweetness of this excessive pain, that I could not wish to be rid of it. The soul is satisfied now with nothing less than God. The pain is not bodily, but spiritual; though the body has its share in it. It is a caressing of love so sweet which now takes place between the soul and God, that I pray God of His goodness to make him experience it who may think that I am lying."
Art Neuendorffer

Post Reply