Malin 1

Malin 1

Observation data Epoch J2000.0 [1]
Constellation	Coma Berenices [2]
Right ascension	12h 36m 59.341s [1]
Declination	+14° 19′ 49.47″ [1]
Apparent dimension (V)	0.219′ × 0.204′ [2]
Characteristics
Type	S? [1]
Other designations
Malin 1 , PGC 42102 , LEDA 42102 , 2MASX J12365934+1419494

Malin 1 is a giant^[3] low surface brightness^[1] disk galaxy^[4] which is 650,000 light years across;^{[citation needed]} 5 and a half times the size of our Milky Way. It was the first LSB galaxy verified to exist,^[4] and as such, is the first giant LSB galaxy identified.^[3] Its high surface brightness central spiral is 30,000 light years across; with a bulge of 10,000 light years.^[3] The central spiral is a SB0a type barred-spiral.^[3]

It is extremely important even though its lack of brightness because of its size.^{[citation needed]} With a diameter of what is 650,000 light years across that would make it the largest barred spiral galaxy ever to have been observed.^{[citation needed]} Malin 1 was once thought to be the biggest galaxy ever,^[4] at 1,000 times the diameter of the Milky Way.

References

1. ^ ^{a b c d e} SIMBAD, "2MASX J12365934+1419494" (accessed 2010-10-27)
2. ^ ^{a b} WikiSky, "PGC 42102" (accessed 2010-10-27)
3. ^ ^{a b c d} Ken Crosswell, "Malin 1: A Bizarre Galaxy Gets Slightly Less So", 22 January 2007
4. ^ ^{a b c} Scientific American, "The Ghostliest Galaxies", GD Bothun, Vol. 276, No. 2, February 1997, pp.40-45, Bibcode: 1997SciAm.276b..40B