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Credit & Copyright: Mike Selby
Explanation:
Across the heart of the
Virgo Galaxy Cluster lies
a string of galaxies known as
Markarian's Chain.
Prominent in
Markarian's Chain are these two
interacting galaxies,
NGC 4438 (left) and NGC 4435 - also known as The Eyes.
About 50 million
light-years away, the two
galaxies appear to be about 100,000 light-years apart in
this sharp close-up, but have likely approached
to within an estimated 16,000 light-years of each other in their
cosmic past.
Gravitational tides from
the close encounter have ripped away at
their stars, gas, and dust.
The more massive NGC 4438 managed to hold on
to much of the material torn out in the
collision,
while material from the smaller NGC 4435 was more
easily lost.
The remarkably deep image of this crowded region
of the universe also
includes many more
distant background galaxies.
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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: Virgo Cluster - galaxies
Publications with words: Virgo Cluster - galaxies
See also:
- APOD: 2024 December 18 Á NGC 660: Polar Ring Galaxy
- Stellar Streams in the Local Universe
- APOD: 2024 April 15 Á The Cigar Galaxy from Hubble and Webb
- APOD: 2023 August 2 Á M82: Galaxy with a Supergalactic Wind
- Virgo Cluster Galaxies
- In the Heart of the Virgo Cluster
- Comet Leonard and the Whale Galaxy