|
Credit & Copyright: Stephen Leshin
Explanation:
Pointy stars and peculiar galaxies span
this cosmic snapshot,
a telescopic view toward the well-groomed constellation
Coma Berenices.
Bright enough to show off diffraction
spikes,
the stars are in the foreground of the scene, well within our
own Milky Way.
But the two prominent galaxies lie far beyond our own, some
41 million light-years distant.
Also known as NGC 4747, the smaller distorted galaxy at
left is the
159th entry
in the Arp Atlas of Peculiar Galaxies, with extensive tidal tails
indicative of strong gravitational interactions
in its past.
At about a 100,000 light-years across, its likely companion on the right
is the much larger NGC 4725.
At first glance
NGC 4725 appears to be a normal spiral galaxy,
its central region dominated by the yellowish light of
cool, older stars giving way to younger
hot blue star clusters along dusty spiral outskirts.
Still, NGC 4725 does look a little odd with only
one main spiral arm.
|
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: NGC 4725 - interacting galaxies
Publications with words: NGC 4725 - interacting galaxies
See also: