Posted on 02/07/2024 12:51:33 PM PST by MtnClimber
Explanation: Are these two galaxies really attracted to each other? Yes, gravitationally, and the result appears as an enormous iconic heart -- at least for now. Pictured is the pair of galaxies cataloged as NGC 4038 and NGC 4039,known as the Antennae Galaxies. Because they are only 60 million light years away, close by intergalactic standards, the pair is one of the best studied interacting galaxies on the night sky. Their strong attraction began about a billion years ago when they passed unusually close to each other. As the two galaxies interact, their stars rarely collide, but new stars are formed when their interstellar gases crash together. Some new stars have already formed, for example, in the long antennae seen extending out from the sides of the dancing duo. By the time the galaxy merger is complete, likely over a billion years from now, billions of new stars may have formed.
For more detail go to the link and click on the image for a high definition image. You can then move the magnifying glass cursor then click to zoom in and click again to zoom out. When zoomed in you can scan by moving the side bars on the bottom and right side of the image.
It doesn’t seem possible that galaxies could collide and have few stars do so. But when one realizes the distances, they are mind boggling. If our sun was the size of a green pea Pluto would be 100 yards away. The nearest star, Proxima Centauri, would be 125 miles away. The universe is mostly empty space
BEEEYOOTIFULLLL! Looks like a jeweled pendant.
What a beautiful pair of galaxies!
I enjoy these posts.
“The universe is mostly empty space”
Yep and I remember this little tib bit,
If the proton nucleus of a hydrogen atom were the size of a golf ball, the electron would be orbiting almost a mile away! That’s why we say atoms are mostly empty space!
A heart for Valentine’s day?
I almost choked on my salad……LOL!
So is all matter in the Universe. Your body, for example, is mostly empty space on the atomic level.
The most empty space is between the ears of a liberal.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.