Nearby Dwarf Galaxy Leo I
Credit & Copyright: David Malin
(AAO),
AATB
Explanation:
Leo I is a
dwarf spheroidal galaxy in the
Local Group of galaxies dominated by our
Milky Way Galaxy and
M31.
Leo I is thought to be the most distant of
the
eleven known small satellite galaxies orbiting our
Milky Way Galaxy.
Besides the
LMC and the
SMC,
all Milky Way satellite galaxies are
small,
dim, dwarf spheroidals, including the closest galaxy - the
Sagittarius
Dwarf.
Leo I is more distant than most of them,
thought to be about 250 kpc away.
Although very little star-forming gas is visible in
Leo I, analysis of
star ages shows that stars have
formed as recently as a billion years ago.
Authors & editors:
Robert Nemiroff
(MTU) &
Jerry Bonnell
(USRA)
NASA Web Site Statements, Warnings,
and Disclaimers
NASA Official: Jay Norris.
Specific
rights apply.
A service of:
LHEA at
NASA /
GSFC
& Michigan Tech. U.
