IC 1011
IC 1011 is a supergiant elliptical galaxy located in the constellation Coma Berenices. It is one of the largest galaxies known, classified as a cD galaxy, which denotes a dominant, very luminous galaxy residing at the center of a galaxy cluster.
Characteristics:
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Size and Luminosity: IC 1011 is exceptionally large and luminous. Its diameter is estimated to be around 6 million light-years, making it significantly larger than our own Milky Way galaxy. Its enormous size contributes to its incredibly high luminosity.
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Central Galaxy of Abell 2065: IC 1011 sits at the heart of the Abell 2065 galaxy cluster, also known as the Coma Cluster. Its dominant position within the cluster suggests it has grown over billions of years through the accretion of smaller galaxies and the merging of other cluster members. This process is known as galactic cannibalism.
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Supermassive Black Hole: Like most large galaxies, IC 1011 is believed to host a supermassive black hole at its center. While its mass is not precisely known, it is expected to be among the largest known black holes, given the galaxy's overall size.
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Stellar Population: The galaxy is primarily composed of older stars, giving it the characteristic reddish-yellow color associated with elliptical galaxies. However, detailed studies reveal varying stellar populations and evidence of past merger events.
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Globular Cluster System: IC 1011 possesses an extensive system of globular clusters orbiting its galactic center. These globular clusters are tightly bound collections of stars and provide valuable insights into the galaxy's formation history. The number of globular clusters associated with IC 1011 is vast, exceeding even the already substantial number found around our own Milky Way.
Significance:
IC 1011 is a significant object for astronomers due to its extreme size and luminosity. Studying this galaxy provides clues about galaxy formation and evolution, the processes that govern galaxy cluster dynamics, and the nature of supermassive black holes at the centers of large galaxies. It represents an example of the most massive and dominant galaxies found in the universe.