Pegasus Dwarf Irregular Galaxy | |
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Observation data (J2000 epoch) | |
Constellation | Pegasus |
Right ascension | 23h 28m 36.2s[1] |
Declination | +14° 44′ 35″[1] |
Redshift | -183 ± 0 km/s[1] |
Distance | 3.0 ± 0.1 Mly (920 ± 30 kpc)[2] |
Type | dIrr/dSph[1][a] |
Apparent dimensions (V) | 5′.0 × 2′.7[1] |
Apparent magnitude (V) | 13.2[1] |
Other designations | |
UGC 12613,[1] PGC 71538,[1] DDO 216,[1] Pegasus Dwarf,[1] PegDIG[1] | |
See also: Galaxy, List of galaxies |
The Pegasus Dwarf Irregular Galaxy (also known as Peg DIG or the Pegasus Dwarf) is an irregular galaxy and a dwarf galaxy in the direction of the constellation Pegasus. It was discovered by A.G. Wilson in the 1950s. The Pegasus Dwarf is a companion of the Andromeda Galaxy in the Local Group.
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In 1975 Tully & Fisher determined that it was part of the Local Group. The metallicity and the related distance estimate has been subject to discussions in the scientific literature, with varying results, however, recently, by use of the tip of the red giant branch, a distance within 10% error was achieved in 2000[3][4] and then improved to 3% in 2005.[2]
This galaxy is presumed to be the primary location of the science fiction television series Stargate: Atlantis. While it's mentioned the show takes place in "the Pegasus galaxy" it has not explicitly stated if it is the Irregular or Spheroidal. However, when the Pegasus galaxy has been seen from the Midway station an irregular galaxy is shown. Also, in the discussion regarding the new McKay-Carter Intergalactic Gate Bridge, General Hank Landry states that the distance between the Pegasus and Milky Way galaxies is "three million light-years," suggesting that the series takes place in the Pegasus Dwarf Irregular Galaxy.[5] It is also stated in the pilot by Daniel Jackson that the pegasus galaxy is a dwarf galaxy in the local group, much like the real Pegasus Dwarf Irregular Galaxy.