title: Galaxy disruption in a halo of dark matter.
abstract: The relics of disrupted satellite galaxies have been found around the Milky Way and Andromeda, but direct evidence of a satellite galaxy in the early stages of disruption has remained elusive. We have discovered a dwarf satellite galaxy in the process of being torn apart by gravitational tidal forces as it merges with a larger galaxy's dark matter halo. Our results illustrate the morphological transformation of dwarf galaxies by tidal interaction and the continued buildup of galaxy halos.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Astrophysics and Supercomputing, Swinburne University of Technology, Post Office Box 218, Hawthorn, VIC 3122, Australia. dforbes@swin.edu.au
authors.forename: Duncan A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Forbes
authors.forename: Michael A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Beasley
authors.forename: Kenji
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Bekki
authors.forename: Jean P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Brodie
authors.forename: Jay
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Strader