heehaw wrote:Just wait till we take on Andromeda!
First we take Manhattan, then we take Berlin, then we take Andromeda...
(I don't know, the meter just doesn't sound right. Maybe we don't take Andromeda.)
But this is a great APOD of a fascinating pair of interacting galaxies. Note the elongated outer arm of NGC 1532 at lower right. It's been stretched by tidal forces like a rubber band.
Mountain lion. Photo: myheimu.
Also note how the inner arms of NGC 1532 at right are raised up like a pouncing predator, intent on catching its prey. And the prey is of course the hapless dwarf galaxy, NGC 1531. Note the large yellow bulge of NGC 1532 and the bright star formation in a part of its inner arm.
M51 and NGC 5195. Photo: R. Jay GaBany.
But I disagree that NGC 1531/1532 is very similar to M51 and NGC 5195. Even though M51 is obviously larger than its companion, NGC 5195, the two galaxies might be relatively similar in mass. Note the small yellow bulge of M51, which is considerably smaller than the bulge of NGC 5195. We expect to find most of a galaxy's baryonic matter in its bulge.
But when it comes to NGC 1531 and 1532, there can be no doubt that NGC 1532 is not only bigger but also far more massive than its small dwarf companion-prey. The large yellow bulge of NGC 1532 is testament to that.
Ann