The universe is filled with many mysteries and any discoveries that humanity makes at this point are definitely still considered milestones. Of course, some are still bigger and more interesting than others. Case in point is NASA's discovery of a new galaxy, which seems to have taken parts of other galaxies in order to make it whole.
There are three particularly interesting facts about this:
1. Galaxy UGC 1382 Was Mistaken For Being Boring
As Astronomy.Com explains that Galaxy UGC 1382 is actually not a new discovery at all. In fact, it was discovered years ago but was always thought to be average and boring. However, scientists have since looked at the data obtained from NASA's telescopes, as well as information from other observatories and have concluded that UGC 1382 is made up of differently aged parts.
Contrary to what was previously believed, UGC 1382 is actually 10x bigger than what was originally thought. And in expanding the lens on the galaxy, it was discovered that the younger parts of it are much younger than its outside parts. It is almost as if UGC 1382 was built with parts from other galaxies, perhaps some of them no existing anymore. The effect is a Frankenstein-like picture.
2. The Frankenstein Galaxy Is Incredibly Fragile
And as Mail Online adds, the Frankenstein galaxy is a very delicate one. Mark Seibert, who co-authored a study on the same, described it to be "so delicate that a slight nudge from a neighbor would cause it to disintegrate." Indeed, he also shared that the galaxy only exists because it lies in a part of the universe that is so quiet, that no noise is taken in from any of the galaxies beside it.
3. The Unique Galaxy Was Accidentally Found Again
No one can confirm at this point, but it is like the galaxy was created from an accident. Ironically, an accident is how the galaxy was chanced upon in the first place. Apparently, Seibert and Lea Hagen, a graduate student from Pennsylvania State University, were just looking for stars forming in typical elliptical galaxies. However, they found an anomaly in the form of spiral arms extending far outside this galaxy, which no one had noticed before, and which elliptical galaxies should not have."
