Abstract
Blue compact galaxies (BCGs) are characterized by their compact appearance and very blue colours1,2 indicative of a high star-formation rate. The metal abundances are low, suggesting that the present rate of star formation cannot have lasted for very long3 (unless the gas is being replenished). These galaxies are thus either truly young or their star formation takes place in short bursts3,4. ESO400-G43 ( = 2034–356) is one of the brightest and largest BCGs known. Observations in the 21-cm line with the Very Large Array (VLA) of the National Radio Astronomy Observatory reveal a massive (5×109 M⊙) slowly rotating H I halo. Optical observations obtained at the European Southern Observatory (ESO) show that the morphology and spectral properties are consistent with a predominantly young stellar population and an extremely low mass to light ratio (M/LB = 0.1). The luminous stars seem to be concentrated in a rapidly spinning central disk. Dark matter is dominating the mass at large radii.
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Bergvall, N., Jörsäter, S. ESO400-G43, a forming galaxy?. Nature 331, 589–591 (1988). https://doi.org/10.1038/331589a0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/331589a0
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