NGC4039: Starbirth and Galaxy Death
Explanation:
Do star clusters form when galaxies collide? Quite possibly, according to
Hubble Space Telescope
observations of the
"
Antennae",
two galaxies thought to be in the early stages of a collision. As
NGC 4038
and NGC 4039
slowly merge, the combined gravity of each pulls the other apart,
huge gas clouds collide, and new bright stars and dark
dust are dispersed.
Many blue knots of stars appear to be newly formed
globular clusters.
Red
star knots are particularly interesting, as they might be
globular clusters
that have not yet expelled early dust from their system. The
above
picture is centered around the smaller of the
two interacting galaxies: NGC 4039. The
color contrast
in the above three-color mosaic was chosen to highlight extended features.
Authors & editors:
Robert Nemiroff
(MTU) &
Jerry Bonnell
(USRA)
NASA Web Site Statements, Warnings,
and Disclaimers
NASA Official: Jay Norris.
Specific
rights apply.
A service of:
LHEA at
NASA /
GSFC
& Michigan Tech. U.
