Universe's smallest galaxies discovered

[zakur]

Universe's smallest galaxies discovered

A team of scientists led by the University of Bristol has discovered a new class of galaxy - the first such discovery since the 1930s.

The Hubble Space Telescope was used to study the seven new galaxies, which have been named ultra-compact dwarfs (UCDs).

The galaxies - in a cluster 60 million light-years away - are so small that on ordinary photographs, they look like individual stars.

For comparison, the Milky Way is over 100,000 light-years in diameter. The UCDs are not much more than 100 light-years across.

More news stories here.

 

[aerocontrols]

Uh-oh.

I sense trouble with the name 'ultra compact dwarfs' - hasn't our study of the dinosaurs taught us anything? It becomes increasingly harder to give meaningful names to things we think of as 'biggest' or 'smallest' when we keep finding ones bigger or smaller than the previous record-holder.

Brachiosaurus
Diplodocus
Ultrasaurus
Supersaurus
Seismosaurus...


Giving these tiny galaxies such a small name is backing future scientists into a corner.

What happens when Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones find Orion's Belt?

 

[Fade]

Giving these tiny galaxies such a small name is backing future scientists into a corner.

Oh come on!

100 light years is tiny tiny tiny on this scale. I can't really imagine things being much smaller.

 

[Jethro]

I remember some of my geek friends and I having discussions on how the empire could possibly span the entire galaxy in Star Wars. I think we now have our answer.

 

[Yahweh]

Uh-oh.

I sense trouble with the name 'ultra compact dwarfs' - hasn't our study of the dinosaurs taught us anything? It becomes increasingly harder to give meaningful names to things we think of as 'biggest' or 'smallest' when we keep finding ones bigger or smaller than the previous record-holder.

Brachiosaurus
Diplodocus
Ultrasaurus
Supersaurus
Seismosaurus...

I thought I was the only person to think of things like that. I would like to add onto your list with:
Megasaurus
Supermegasarus
Seismosupermegasaurus
Superdupermegasaurus
Superdoubledupermegasaurus

I could on for at least 15 more dinosaurs...

 

[Jesus H Christ]

Daddy! What are you doing here?

 

[aerocontrols]

I thought I was the only person to think of things like that. I would like to add onto your list with:
Megasaurus
Supermegasarus
Seismosupermegasaurus
Superdupermegasaurus
Superdoubledupermegasaurus

I could on for at least 15 more dinosaurs...

Supercalifragilisticexpialisaurus?