UA Astronomers on Team Describing New Evidence of ‘Inconvenient’ Galaxy

[Mike]

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Discovery of two new components within a puzzling spiral galaxy confirm it must have a pair of arms winding in the opposite direction from most galaxies, according to results being presented today to the American Astronomical Society meeting in Austin, Texas. Presenting the results are Drs. Gene Byrd and Ron Buta, from The University of Alabama; Tarsh Freeman, Bevill Community College; and Dr. Sethanne Howard, retired from the U.S. Naval Observatory.

"While the existence of a galaxy with a pair of 'backward' arms may seem like an inconvenient truth to many, our latest analysis indicates it is, nonetheless, a reality," says Byrd, professor of astronomy at The University of Alabama.

The galaxy, known as NGC4622, lies 200 million light years away in the constellation Centaurus.



For full story - http://uanews.ua.edu/anews2008/jan08/galaxy010808.htm

[mickw]

Another link

http://www.space.com/scienceastronomy/080110-galaxy-winds-backwards.html