Posted on 05/08/2014 4:10:53 AM PDT by SunkenCiv
Explanation: Sharp telescopic views of NGC 3628 show a puffy galactic disk divided by dark dust lanes. Of course, this deep portrait of the magnificent, edge-on spiral galaxy puts some astronomers in mind of its popular moniker, the Hamburger Galaxy. It also reveals a small galaxy nearby, likely a satellite of NGC 3628, and a faint but extensive tidal tail. The tantalizing island universe itself is about 100,000 light-years across and 35 million light-years away in the northern springtime constellation Leo. Its drawn out tail stretches for about 300,000 light-years, even beyond the left edge of the wide frame. NGC 3628 shares its neighborhood in the local Universe with two other large spirals M65 and M66 in a grouping otherwise known as the Leo Triplet. Gravitational interactions with its cosmic neighbors are likely responsible for creating the tidal tail, as well as the extended flare and warp of this spiral's disk.
(Excerpt) Read more at 129.164.179.22 ...
[Credit & Copyright: Martin Pugh]
Hamburger? Well, maybe one of those frozen squares that they nuke at McD’s! :-)
(seen edge on)
I like my burgers a little thicker...
Ok...now I’m hungry!
I can’t see the tail at all, even though I went to The Big One and expanded
the image well beyond what the web site does when you click the + cursor.
Hold the pickle.
Hold the lettuce!
LOL!
Trio in Leo!
Pretty Wimpy actually, IMHO*
The trail of the hamburger.
A gherkin chip?
Clearly there needs to be something adjacent named for Popeye, Olive Oyl, Swee’Pea, Wimpy (in particular), Bluto, and maybe the Sea Hag.
Oh wow, I was *just* thinking about that episode. :’)
Looks like the roll was called up yonder.
I’ll take another look.
Over to one side you can see the Condiment Nebula, although it’s also faint, having drifted away.
Yes, that’s right.
It’s the first documented case of Condimental Drift.
It’s sad that someone just discarded the takeout box that it came in, probably will collide with the empty beer can galaxy over in the cosmic ditch.
“Two all quasar clusters,
Planetoids, stars and dust,
Asteroids, around a giant black hole. “
Why, thank you Mr. Civilizations. I see it all now.
And as you said, the roll apparently was called up yonder, too. [giggles]
I hope a major study is launched immediately to study this Condimental
Drift. Otherwise, who knows what catastrophes might ensue?
I know. Some people are just SO careless!
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