Key Takeaways:
- The universe contains an estimated 100 billion galaxies, with a potentially infinite number.
- NGC 5907, also known as the Splinter or Knife Edge Galaxy, is an SA(s)c galaxy viewed nearly edge-on, located approximately 53.5 million light-years away and possessing a magnitude of 11.1.
- NGC 5907 is classified as a warped spiral galaxy, exhibiting an extensive tidal stream and a warped disk, as confirmed by astronomical observations in 2006.
- Characterized by low metallicity, a limited population of giant stars, predominantly dwarf stars, and low star formation activity, NGC 5907 has recorded one supernova event, SN 1940A.
Perhaps 100 billion galaxies exist in the universe at this time, although the cosmos could be infinite and the number even larger. Of the huge number of galaxies, several thousand are bright enough to be viewed nicely with a small or medium-sized backyard telescope. And of course the orientations of galaxies in space are all over the place — only a handful of galaxies are really bright in our sky and oriented almost exactly edge-on to our line of sight.
One of these edge-on marvels is NGC 5907 in Draco. It is an SA(s)c galaxy, sometimes called the Splinter Galaxy or the Knife Edge Galaxy. It lies a short distance away from M102 (NGC 5866), a smaller galaxy that is also, coincidentally, oriented almost exactly edge-on.
NGC 5907 is relatively large and bright, shining at magnitude 11.1 and spanning 12.7’ by 1.4’. It lies approximately 53.5 million light-years away.
This galaxy is a prototypical “warped spiral.” In 2006 a team of astronomers announced the detection of an extensive tidal stream of material surrounding the galaxy, with evidence of a warp in the disk.
NGC 5907 has an anomalously low metallicity and a small number of giant stars. This galaxy is almost entirely composed of dwarf stars, and its star formation is pretty dormant.
The galaxy has produced one supernova on record: SN 1940A, which peaked at magnitude 14.3.
