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Credit & Copyright: Judy Schmidt
Explanation:
What makes this spiral galaxy so long?
Measuring over
700,000 light years across from top to bottom,
NGC 6872, also known as the
Condor galaxy,
is one of the most elongated
barred spiral galaxies known.
The galaxy's
protracted shape likely results from its continuing
collision with the smaller galaxy IC 4970,
visible just above center.
Of particular interest is
NGC 6872's spiral arm on the upper left, as
pictured here, which exhibits an unusually high amount of
blue star forming regions.
The light we see today left these colliding giants before the days of the dinosaurs,
about 300 million years ago.
NGC 6872
is visible with a small
telescope toward the constellation of the Peacock (Pavo).
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Based on Astronomy Picture
Of the Day
Publications with keywords: spiral galaxy
Publications with words: spiral galaxy
See also: