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Credit & Copyright: Mike Selby,
Observatorio El Sauce
Explanation:
Locked
in a cosmic embrace,
two large galaxies are merging
at the center of this sharp telescopic field of view.
The interacting system cataloged
as Arp 93
is some 200 million
light-years distant toward the constellation Aquarius in planet Earth's
sky.
Individually the galaxies are identified as NGC 7285 (right) and NGC 7284.
Their bright cores are still separated by about
20,000 light-years or so, but a massive
tidal stream,
a result of their ongoing
gravitational interaction,
extends over 200,000 light-years
toward the bottom of the frame.
Interacting galaxies do look
peculiar,
but are now understood to be common in the Universe.
In fact, closer to home, the large spiral Andromeda Galaxy is known to be
approaching the Milky Way.
Arp 93 may well present an analog of their distant
future
cosmic embrace.
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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: merging galaxies
Publications with words: merging galaxies
See also: