Portrait of NGC 3628
Explanation:
Sharp telescopic views of
NGC 3628
show a puffy galactic disk divided by dark dust lanes.
Of course,
this
deep portrait
of the magnificent, edge-on spiral galaxy puts some astronomers
in mind of its popular moniker,
the Hamburger Galaxy.
It also reveals a small galaxy nearby, likely a satellite of
NGC 3628, and a faint but extensive
tidal
tail.
The drawn out tail stretches for about 300,000
light-years, even beyond the right edge of the wide frame.
NGC 3628 shares its neighborhood in the
local universe with two other large spirals
M65 and
M66 in a grouping
otherwise known as
the Leo Triplet.
Gravitational interactions with its
cosmic
neighbors
are likely responsible for creating the tidal tail,
as well as the extended flare and warp of this spiral's disk.
The tantalizing island universe
itself is about 100,000 light-years across and 35 million light-years away
in the northern springtime constellation Leo.
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.
