A Pea galaxy, also known as a Green Pea, is a type of galaxy that appears green in images. These galaxies are a specific type of luminous blue compact galaxy.
Characteristics of Green Pea Galaxies
These galaxies exhibit several unique characteristics:
- Color: Their greenish hue in images from surveys like the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) is due to strong emission lines, particularly from ionized oxygen.
- Size: They are relatively small.
- Star Formation: They undergo exceptionally high rates of star formation.
Why are they called "Pea" Galaxies?
The name "Pea galaxy" comes from their small size and the greenish color they exhibit in images, leading observers to liken them to green peas.
