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Credit: GMOS-S Commissioning Team,
Gemini Observatory
Explanation:
Posing for
this cosmic family photo are the galaxies of HCG
(Hickson Compact Group)
87, about four hundred million
light-years distant toward the amphibious constellation
Capricornus.
The large edge-on
spiral near picture center, the fuzzy
elliptical galaxy immediately to its right, and the
spiral near the top of the image are identified members of the
group, while the small spiral
galaxy in the middle is likely a
more distant background galaxy.
In any event, a careful examination of the deep image reveals other
galaxies which certainly lie far beyond
HCG 87.
While not exactly locked in
a
group hug, the HCG 87 galaxies
are interacting
gravitationally, influencing their
fellow group members' structure and evolution.
This new image
is from an instrument undergoing commissioning
on the
Gemini Observatory's
South Telescope at Cerro Pachon, Chile.
It compares favorably with views of this photogenic galaxy group
recorded by the
Hubble
Space Telescope.
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NASA Web Site Statements, Warnings, and Disclaimers
NASA Official: Jay Norris. Specific rights apply.
A service of: LHEA at NASA / GSFC
& Michigan Tech. U.
Based on Astronomy Picture
Of the Day
Publications with keywords: HCG 87 - galaxies - interacting galaxies
Publications with words: HCG 87 - galaxies - interacting galaxies
See also: