APOD: 2009 April 7 The Colliding Spiral Galaxies of Arp 274
Explanation:
Two galaxies are squaring off in Virgo and here are the latest pictures.
When two
galaxies collide, the stars that compose them usually
do not.
This is because
galaxies
are mostly empty space and, however bright, stars only take up only a small fraction
of that space.
But during the
collision, one galaxy can rip the other apart gravitationally, and dust and
gas common to both galaxies does
collide.
If the two
galaxies merge, black holes that likely resided in each galaxy center
may eventually
merge.
Because the distances are so large, the
whole thing takes place in slow motion -- over hundreds of millions of years.
Besides the two
large spiral galaxies,
a smaller third galaxy is visible on the far left of the
above image of Arp 274, also known as NGC 5679.
Arp 274 spans about 200,000
light years across and lies about 400 million light years away toward the
constellation of Virgo.
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.
