Blue patch under galaxy

by Budgieye moderator

Interesting blue patch. I wonder why it has 3 ObjIDs

enter image description here

http://skyservice.pha.jhu.edu/DR9/ImgCutout/getjpeg.aspx?ra=37.59160083&dec=-2.9851051&scale=0.09903175&width=512&height=512&opt=SP&query=&PhotoObjs=on&SpecObjs=on

http://skyserver.sdss.org/dr9/en/tools/explore/obj.asp?ra=37.5916079834056&dec=-2.9850900765975554

Posted February 12, 2017 8:20 PM

by Ghost_Sheep_SWR

Yes, not the usual starforming or background galaxy colour, much darker blue / magenta and amorphous shape.

And as MirceaPteancu indicated there is also a smaller cloud on the other side although it is greener. If you imagine drawing a line between them it seems it would go through the center of main galaxy. So maybe there is even a symmetric relation there.

Posted February 12, 2017 8:59 PM

by Budgieye moderator

3 circles

http://skyserver.sdss.org/dr9/en/tools/explore/obj.asp?id=1237679255746642061

All 3 circles have the same ID ?

http://skyserver.sdss.org/dr9/en/tools/explore/obj.asp?id=1237679255746642061

circles on the other side. same number?

Posted February 12, 2017 9:59 PM

by Ghost_Sheep_SWR

Maybe SDSS got smart for once and figured it's one object.

Posted February 12, 2017 10:18 PM

by Budgieye moderator

Well I wish that it is darker blue. But I think we will call in a scientist.

Posted February 13, 2017 4:29 PM

by NGC3314 scientist

Hmm. The SDSS object identifier can do odd things on faint irregular blobs, and it lists three sets of magnitudes corresponding to the three photometric objects. I don't think it's blue enough or has a spectrum peaked enough to say "emission lines" - the errors listed on gri magnitudes are 0.1-0.3 magnitude, which even allow the spectrum to have no peaks in these filters. (This was a subtle find - I have to view my monitor just right to see this thing in the SDSS composite image).

Posted March 9, 2017 8:08 PM

by ElisabethB moderator