Unusual Spiral Galaxy M66 from Hubble
Credit: NASA, ESA, Hubble Heritage, S. Van Dyk (JPL/IPAC), R. Chandar (U. Toledo), D. De Martin & R. Gendler
Posted on 04/13/2010 5:54:55 AM PDT by sig226
Explanation: Why isn't spiral galaxy M66 symmetric? Usually density waves of gas, dust, and newly formed stars circle a spiral galaxy's center and create a nearly symmetric galaxy. The differences between M66's spiral arms and the apparent displacement of its nucleus are all likely caused by previous close interactions and the tidal gravitational pulls of nearby galaxy neighbors M65 and NGC 3628. Spiral galaxy M66, pictured above, spans about 100,000 light years, lies about 35 million light years distant, and is the largest galaxy in a group known as the Leo Triplet. Like many spiral galaxies, the long and intricate dust lanes of M66 are seen intertwined with the bright stars and nebulas that light up the spiral arms.
Such numbers boggle the mind. What God created never ceases to amaze me.
It is truly amazing. Everything from the cosmos to the workings of DNA.
I enjoy reading about many strange things, and one that has caught my attention recently is the discussion of the creation of our universe. Are you aware of the “finely tuned universe” observations—recent knowledge has shown us our universe, being relatively stable, is quite an amazing occurrence.
The atheists have respond with a “multi-verse” hypothesis—saying that our universe is one of a very large number of different universes, possibly an infinite number, and it just happens to be one of the stable ones! Of course, we cannot observe any other universes. Ha!
Here is a good article about the debate, written in a secular magazine:
http://discovermagazine.com/2008/dec/10-sciences-alternative-to-an-intelligent-creator
And the Hits Just Keep On Coming! Thank You for Your Daily Pings!
You just have to have faith that they exist! Duh.
She's given you all she's got Cap'an.
I kanna brrrreak the laws o physics!
Amazing!
The differences between M66's spiral arms and the apparent displacement of its nucleus are all likely caused by previous close interactions and the tidal gravitational pulls of nearby galaxy neighbors M65 and NGC 3628.
Yep. Our Milky Way is gonna face the same fate. Andromeda is hurtling at us at 300,000 MPH and when we collide we're all doomed. It 'll be here in a few yea.....
uh.. never mind ;-)
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