Astronomers witnessed the death of a distant galaxy for the first time

When stars in a galaxy stop forming, that galaxy will die. Astronomers have observed, for the first time ever, this phenomenon in a distant galaxy.

according to CNN ReportIn Chile, scientists using the Atacama Large Array of millimeters / under millimeter from telescopes in Chile, were able to capture a “rare” galactic observation “that released nearly half of the gas it used to form stars.

The light from this galaxy, known as ID2299, took nearly nine billion years to reach Earth. CNN reported – Which means that astronomers mainly “monitor how it appeared when the universe was only 4.5 billion years old (it is now estimated at 14 billion years old).”

ID2299 is losing the fuel it needs to form stars – the equivalent of 10,000 suns of gas per year – and has so far removed 46% of the galaxy’s total cold gas. Transfer explained.

However, at a rate “hundreds of times faster than our Milky Way”, ID2299 is still forming rapidly from stars, Transfer Indicated.

The formation of these stars will deplete the remaining gas in the galaxy, and will effectively lead to “the death of ID2299 in a few tens of millions of years”, Transfer explained.

The a study, Which CNN Cited, it was published on Monday in the magazine Natural Astronomy.

CNN Anagrazia Puglisi, a lead study researcher and postdoctoral researcher from the University of Durham in the United Kingdom and the Saclay Center for Nuclear Research in France, cited in a statement: “This is the first time that we have seen a massive star-forming model galaxy in the distant universe on the verge of ‘Death’ due to massive cold gas emission ‘.

What caused the demise of the galaxy?

according to TransferThe cause of death of this galaxy, may have been a collision with another galaxy, “which eventually merged to form ID2299.”

Is there convincing evidence that the gas loss might be the result of a collision? according to CNN Report, The a study There he says – called the tidal tail – “a long stream of gas and stars extending into space after two galaxies together in collision.”

Although these tidal tails are usually “too faint” to be seen in galaxies at this distance, a study Note that in this case the brilliant tail was visible to astronomers as it was extending into space. CNN mentioned.

Astronomers may need to revisit past theories.

Previously, scientists believed that the “end of star formation” occurred when “the winds resulting from star formation, along with active black holes in the centers of giant galaxies, sent materials needed for star formation flowing into space,” CNN Quote.

However, the a study Note that if this galaxy’s loss of gas is due to a merger, “astronomers may need to reconsider theories regarding the end of star formation in galaxies.”

CNN Cited Emmanuel Daddy, co-author and astronomer at the Saclay Center for Nuclear Research in France, who said: “Our study indicates that gas emissions can result from mergers and that winds and tidal tails can look very similar.” “This may lead us to review our understanding of how galaxies die,” he added.

This observation was an unexpected discovery.

One interesting aspect about this finding is that it was “conducted while astronomers were working on a different survey of cold gas in distant galaxies,” and although their observation of ID2299 only lasted a few minutes, “it was enough to capture the tidal tail,” CNN mentioned. The possibility remains that more about the ejection of galaxy gas can be revealed through future observations.

CNN “Alma has shed new light on the mechanisms that can stop star formation in distant galaxies. Watching such a massive turbulence add an important piece to the complex puzzle of galaxy evolution,” cited Chiara Circosta, co-author and researcher at University College London, who said in a statement. “.

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