|
Credit & Copyright: W. C. Keel and R. E. White III
(U. Alabama, Tuscaloosa),
Kitt Peak 2.1-meter Telescope
Explanation:
What are five closely grouped galaxies doing in this image?
The grouping is commonly known as Stephan's
Quintet. Four of the galaxies show essentially the same redshift
suggesting that they are at the same distance from us. The large
bluish spiral below and left of
center actually has a smaller redshift
than the others, indicating it is much closer. It is probably
a foreground object which happens to lie along the line of sight
to the more distant galaxies. Of the four distant galaxies,
three seem to be colliding, showing
serious distortions due to gravitational tidal forces. The fourth
is a normal appearing elliptical galaxy
(at the lower right edge of the field). Recent results suggest
that collisions play an important role in the life cycles of galaxies.
|
January February March April May June July August September October November December |
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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: colliding galaxies - Stephan's Quintet
Publications with words: colliding galaxies - Stephan's Quintet
See also:
- APOD: 2024 July 30 Á Arp 142: Interacting Galaxies from Webb
- APOD: 2023 September 25 Á Arp 142: The Hummingbird Galaxy
- APOD: 2023 January 23 Á The Colliding Spiral Galaxies of Arp 274
- Galaxy Wars: M81 and M82
- Stephans Quintet from Webb, Hubble, and Subaru
- NGC 1316: After Galaxies Collide
- Stephan s Quintet