Is this disturbed galaxy overlain By a star or a galaxy?

• by suelaine

  Is this disturbed galaxy overlain By a star or a galaxy? Skyserver focuses on the smaller forward object and calls it a galaxy. What is that smaller object?

  Posted May 31, 2014 2:49 AM

• by ElisabethB moderator

  Difficult to tell in this fuzzy image. It could be a foreground star, but it could also be another galaxy.

  Posted May 31, 2014 5:21 AM

• by Capella05 moderator in response to suelaine's comment.

  Also, remember SkyServer is not always right 😃

  Posted May 31, 2014 8:39 AM

• by JeanTate in response to suelaine's comment.

  Based on the fact that there are several stars in the field, and that the 'smaller object' seems to be of the same shape and ~same color, I'd go for foreground star.

  remember SkyServer is not always right

  Indeed, and it's just this sort of case - faintish star superimposed on the 'mid' part of a smooth galaxy - where it seems it's often wrong. 😃

  Posted May 31, 2014 9:53 AM