Sagittarius Dwarf Spheroidal Galaxy

E21424

The Sagittarius Dwarf Spheroidal Galaxy is a small, elongated satellite galaxy currently being tidally disrupted and absorbed by the Milky Way.

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Observed surface forms (2)


Statements (48)

Predicate Object
instanceOf dwarf spheroidal galaxy
satellite galaxy
stellar stream progenitor
alsoKnownAs SagDEG
Sagittarius Dwarf Spheroidal Galaxy
surface form: Sagittarius Dwarf Elliptical Galaxy

Sagittarius Dwarf Spheroidal Galaxy
surface form: Sagittarius dSph
associatedGlobularCluster Arp 2
M54
Terzan 7
Terzan 8
belongsTo Local Group
contains globular clusters
metal-poor stars
old stellar population
darkMatterDominated true
discoveredBy Geraint F. Lewis
Michael J. Irwin
Rodrigo Ibata
discoveryMethod star count overdensity in Milky Way halo
discoveryYear 1994
disruptionCause Milky Way tidal forces
distanceFromEarth_approx 70000 light-years
distanceFromGalacticCenter_approx 16000–20000 light-years
environment Milky Way satellite system
forms Sagittarius Stream
galacticComponent Milky Way stellar halo
hostGalaxy Milky Way
importanceInAstrophysics used to probe Milky Way dark matter halo
used to study galaxy accretion and tidal disruption
interactionWithMilkyWay currently being accreted by the Milky Way
isSatelliteOf Milky Way
kinematics shows tidal tails extending around the Milky Way
locatedIn Sagittarius
surface form: Sagittarius constellation
luminosityClass low-luminosity galaxy
metallicity low average metallicity compared to the Sun
morphologicalType dSph
observedIn infrared wavelengths
optical wavelengths
radio wavelengths
orbitalPlane nearly polar orbit around Milky Way
orbitalStatus being tidally disrupted by the Milky Way
roleInGalaxyEvolution contributes globular clusters to Milky Way system
contributes stars to Milky Way halo
shape elongated
starFormationActivity little or no current star formation
stellarMass_approx 10^7 solar masses
tidalDebris stellar streams wrapping around the Milky Way
visibility obscured by Milky Way disk and bulge

Referenced by (5)

Full triples — surface form annotated when it differs from this entity's canonical label.

Sagittarius Dwarf Spheroidal Galaxy alsoKnownAs Sagittarius Dwarf Spheroidal Galaxy
this entity surface form: Sagittarius dSph
Sagittarius Dwarf Spheroidal Galaxy alsoKnownAs Sagittarius Dwarf Spheroidal Galaxy
this entity surface form: Sagittarius Dwarf Elliptical Galaxy
Local Group contains Sagittarius Dwarf Spheroidal Galaxy
Sagittarius contains Sagittarius Dwarf Spheroidal Galaxy
Milky Way hasSatellite Sagittarius Dwarf Spheroidal Galaxy