Galaxy Disruption in a Halo of Dark Matter
arXiv:astro-ph/0309020 · doi:10.1126/science.1089237
Abstract
The relics of disrupted satellite galaxies around the Milky Way and Andromeda have been found, but direct evidence of a satellite galaxy in the early stages of being disrupted has remained elusive. We have discovered a dwarf satellite galaxy in the process of being torn apart by gravitational tidal forces as it merges with a larger galaxy's dark matter halo. Our results illustrate the morphological transformation of dwarf galaxies by tidal interaction and the continued build-up of galaxy halos.
7 pages, Latex, 4 figures, to appear in Science v301 p5637