This is a list of stellar streams. A stellar stream is an association of stars orbiting a galaxy that was once a globular cluster or dwarf galaxy that has now been torn apart and stretched out along its orbit by tidal forces. An exoplanet has recently been found orbiting a star HIP 13044 in the Helmi stream
Contents |
| Name | Origin | Mass (Solar masses) |
Length (light years) |
Composition | Discovery year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arcturus stream | Defunct dwarf galaxy | Unknown | Unknown | Old stars deficient in heavy elements | 1971 |
| Magellanic Stream | Large and Small Magellanic Clouds | 200 million | 1 million | Hydrogen gas | 1972 |
| Sagittarius stream | Sagittarius Dwarf Elliptical Galaxy | 100 million | 1 million | Wide variety of stars | 1994 |
| Helmi stream | Defunct dwarf galaxy | 10 to 100 million | Several complete loops around the Milky Way | Old stars deficient in heavy elements | 1999 |
| Palomar 5 stream | Globular cluster Palomar 5 | 5,000 | 30,000 | Old stars | 2001 |
| Virgo stream | Defunct dwarf galaxy | 30,000 | 2001 | ||
| Monoceros ring | Canis Major dwarf galaxy | 100 million | 200,000 | Intermediate-age stars | 2002 |
| Anticenter stream | Defunct dwarf galaxy | Unknown | 30,000 | Old stars | 2006 |
| NGC 5466 stream 45 Degree Tidal Stream |
Globular cluster NGC 5466 | 10,000 | 60,000 | Very old stars | 2006[2] |
| Orphan stream | Ursa Major II Dwarf galaxy | 100,000 | 20,000 | Old stars | 2006 |
| Acheron stream | Globular cluster | 2007[2][3] | |||
| Cocytus stream | Globular cluster | 2007[2][3] | |||
| Lethe stream | Globular cluster | 2007[3] | |||
| Styx stream | Defunct dwarf galaxy | 2007[2][3] | |||
| Bootes III stream | Embedded in, & possible progenitor of Styx stream | 2007[2][3] | |||
| Aquarius Stream | Defunct dwarf galaxy | Unknown | 30,000 | Old stars | 2010 |
| Name | Origin | Mass (Solar masses) |
Length (light years) |
Composition | Discovery year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| M31 Giant stellar stream |
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| Andromeda NE stellar stream[4] |
2004 | ||||
| Tidal Stream Northwest (Tidal Stream E and F)[5] | 2009 | ||||
| Tidal Stream Southwest[5] | 2009 |
| Name | Location | Origin | Mass (Solar masses) |
Length (light years) |
Composition | Characteristics | Discovery year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Young Blue Tidal Stream[6] | NGC 5128 | A gas fragment or a dwarf galaxy |
2002 | ||||
| NGC 4013[7] | former dwarf satellite with low inclination orbit |
large looping structure | 2008 | ||||
| NGC 5907[8] | low-mass satellite accretion | multiple surrounding loops | 2009 | ||||
| NGC 4651[9] | satellite accretion | narrow jet-like structure and surrounding debris shell | 2010 | ||||
| NGC 1055[9] | satellite accretion | box shaped halo pierced by multiple spikes | 2010 | ||||
| NGC 3521[9] | satellite accretion | jet-like structure and surrounding debris shell | 2010 | ||||
| NGC 7531[9] | satellite accretion | surrounding debris shell | 2010 | ||||
| NGC 1084[9] | satellite accretion | three giant disconnected plumes of similar width | 2010 | ||||
| NGC 4216[9] | satellite accretion | ongoing tidal disruption of satellite galaxies seen as long tails extending from the progenitor satellite |
2010 | ||||
| NGC 1055[9] | satellite accretion | clear box shaped inner halo sprinkled with a plethora of coherent spikes | 2010 |
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