'Pegasus VII revealed': A 10-billion-year-old cosmic ghost lurks near Andromeda

Produced by: Mohsin Shaikh

Lost Galaxy Found

[{"selector":"#anim-e2d725b6-db9f-424d-a6f8-807c570f71dd [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(-1.103064637541923%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] Astronomers just discovered Pegasus VII, a hidden dwarf galaxy near Andromeda’s vast halo. Representative pic

Tiny but Mighty

[{"selector":"#anim-da416f21-9d86-4447-bb1d-c5e8cc4c149b [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-17.62459028155494%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] Pegasus VII holds 26,000 suns ’ worth of stars—one of Andromeda’s faintest known satellites. Representative pic

Cosmic Ghost

[{"selector":"#anim-c00e65a0-f52f-4d14-9b1c-aad6c4c8112d [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(-2.28706058001557%, -5.209554422345727%) scale(1.3968253968253967)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] At 2.4 million light-years away, Pegasus VII has been lurking unnoticed for 10 billion years. Representative pic

Galactic Straggler

[{"selector":"#anim-5ac9e9c5-45bd-441f-a576-42f260abadb7 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(22.006835767638563%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] Pegasus VII is on the edge of Andromeda’s gravity, about to be pulled into its vast empire. Representative pic

Faintest Yet

[{"selector":"#anim-505e7e25-db79-433e-b7c5-1ad25f37601f [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-21.874999829338588%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] This is the dimmest Andromeda satellite found so far, yet it’s five times larger than a star cluster. Representative pic

Stretched by Gravity

[{"selector":"#anim-c6fa56f3-c8f8-4220-aef0-67f939ab36d5 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(-0.7366873308593639%, -9.086478432669862%) scale(1.4065040650406504)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] Pegasus VII’s elongated shape suggests it may have been warped by Andromeda’s immense pull. Representative pic

Dwarf Galaxy Hunters

[{"selector":"#anim-02b9e577-5895-42e5-a11d-88f0a5a51d55 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(0%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] Astronomers believe many more hidden galaxies like Pegasus VII remain undiscovered near M31. Representative pic

Ancient Relic

[{"selector":"#anim-f7573ae7-7888-4ed4-9d0a-a591bce4f6db [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(27.584346515088125%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] At 10 billion years old, Pegasus VII formed when the universe was still in its early days. Representative pic

A Galactic First

[{"selector":"#anim-33515bdb-653a-418e-b6c1-40ded9715fbf [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-34.179687404002955%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] Pegasus VII is the first Andromeda dwarf found in the deep UNIONS survey—many more may follow. Representative pic

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