The Colliding Spiral Galaxies of Arp 274
Credit: NASA, ESA, M. Livio (STScI) and the Hubble Heritage Team (STScI/AURA)
Posted on 04/07/2009 8:27:26 AM PDT by sig226
Explanation: Two galaxies are squaring off in Virgo and here are the latest pictures. When two galaxies collide, the stars that compose them usually do not. This is because galaxies are mostly empty space and, however bright, stars only take up only a small fraction of that space. But during the collision, one galaxy can rip the other apart gravitationally, and dust and gas common to both galaxies does collide. If the two galaxies merge, black holes that likely resided in each galaxy center may eventually merge. Because the distances are so large, the whole thing takes place in slow motion -- over hundreds of millions of years. Besides the two large spiral galaxies, a smaller third galaxy is visible on the far left of the above image of Arp 274, also known as NGC 5679. Arp 274 spans about 200,000 light years across and lies about 400 million light years away toward the constellation of Virgo.
Once again, thank you Sig for posting the APOD.
It is often the highlight of my morning.
Cheers,
knewshound
Spectacular! And my continued thanks.
Finally we’re back to some deep space objects. The last week of APOD was pretty boring (of course you know that is no reflection on you sig).
I’ve finally zeroed my settings in for the night sky photography. Now I need to get a remote shutter release because my camera will only take a 30 second exposure in timed mode and I need at least 3 minutes or more.
The first were light enough but the apeture settings caused them to be fuzzy. Now I’ve got them down to pinpricks of light but a 30 second exposure only picks up the brightest stars.
I won’t be getting deep space photos but it looks like I’ll be able to get some nice wide angle milky way pics.
Please add me to this ping list. Thanks.
Oooooh! Gorgeous! Thanks, sig...
I’m so jealous!
Beautious!
I left out half of them for that reason.
I had the opportunity to visit the Apache Point Observatory in New Mexico. 3.5 metre telescope which captured spiral galaxies of such within a millimetre of accuracy. Amazing.
That’s gonna leave a mark
Another sweet one.
Thanks.
It’ll buff out.
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