Pisces I (dwarf galaxy)
Pisces I Dwarf Galaxy[1] | |
---|---|
Observation data (J2000 epoch) | |
Constellation | Pisces |
Right ascension | ~23h 40m 00s[2] |
Declination | ~ −0.3°[2] |
Distance | 260 kly (80 kpc)[3] |
Type | dSph? |
Apparent dimensions (V) | ~1°[2] |
Other designations | |
Pisces I[1] | |
Pisces I or Pisces overdensity is a clump of stars in the Milky Way's halo, which may be a disrupted dwarf spheroidal galaxy.[1] It is situated in the Pisces constellation and was discovered in 2009 by analysis of distribution of RR Lyrae stars in the data obtained by the Sloan Digital Sky Survey's data.[3] The galaxy is located at the distance of about 80 kpc from the Sun and moves towards it with a speed of about 75 km/s.[2]
Pisces I is one of the faintest satellites of the Milky Way.[1] Its mass is estimated to be at least 105 Solar masses.[3] However it has a large size of about several degrees (around 1 kpc) and may be in a transitional phase between a gravitationally bound galaxy and completely unbound system.[2] Pisces I is located near the plane, where the Magellanic Clouds lie. There may exist a connection between the Magellanic stream and this galaxy.[3]