The Double Ring Galaxies of Arp 147 from Hubble
Explanation:
How could a galaxy become shaped like a ring?
Even more strange: how could two?
The rim of the blue galaxy
pictured on the right shows an immense ring-like structure 30,000
light years in diameter composed of newly formed, extremely bright,
massive stars.
This blue galaxy is part of the interacting galaxy system known as
Arp 147, and shows a ring because it has recently collided with the other galaxy
in the frame, the red galaxy on the left.
Unusually, even this red galaxy shows a
ring like band, although it is seen nearly edge-on.
When
galaxies collide, they pass through each other -- their individual stars rarely
come into contact.
Clouds of
interstellar gas and
dust become condensed, causing a wave of star formation
to move out from the impact point like a ripple across the surface of a pond.
The
above image was taken last week by NASA's
Hubble Space Telescope
to demonstrate the ability of its
Wide Field
Planetary Camera 2 after some
recent
technical difficulties.
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.
