by bystander » Mon May 06, 2013 4:52 pm
A Tale of Galactic Collisions
ESA/HEIC Hubble Picture of the Week | 2013 May 06
When we look into the distant cosmos, the great majority of the objects we see are galaxies: immense gatherings of stars, planets, gas, dust, and dark matter, showing up in all kind of shapes. This Hubble picture registers several, but the galaxy catalogued as
2MASX J05210136-2521450 stands out at a glance due to its interesting shape.
This object is an
ultraluminous infrared galaxy which emits a tremendous amount of light at infrared wavelengths. Scientists connect this to intense star formation activity, triggered by a collision between two interacting galaxies.
The merging process has left its signs: 2MASX J05210136-2521450 presents a single, bright nucleus and a spectacular outer structure that consists of a one-sided extension of the inner arms, with a tidal tail heading in the opposite direction, formed from material ripped out from the merging galaxies by gravitational forces.
The image is a combination of exposures taken by Hubble’s Advanced Camera for Surveys, using near-infrared and visible light. A version of this image was submitted to the Hubble’s Hidden Treasures image processing competition by contestant Luca Limatola.
Credit: NASA/ESA/Hubble
Acknowledgement: Luca Limatola
Zoomable Image
<< Previous ESA/HEIC Hubble POTW
[url=http://www.spacetelescope.org/images/potw1318a/][size=120][b][i]A Tale of Galactic Collisions[/i][/b][/size][/url]
ESA/HEIC Hubble Picture of the Week | 2013 May 06
[quote]
[float=right][img3=""]http://www.spacetelescope.org/static/archives/images/screen/potw1318a.jpg[/img3][/float]When we look into the distant cosmos, the great majority of the objects we see are galaxies: immense gatherings of stars, planets, gas, dust, and dark matter, showing up in all kind of shapes. This Hubble picture registers several, but the galaxy catalogued as [url=http://simbad.u-strasbg.fr/simbad/sim-id?Ident=2MASX+J05210136-2521450][b]2MASX J05210136-2521450[/b][/url] stands out at a glance due to its interesting shape.
This object is an [url=http://coolcosmos.ipac.caltech.edu/cosmic_classroom/cosmic_reference/bright_galaxies.html][b]ultraluminous infrared galaxy[/b][/url] which emits a tremendous amount of light at infrared wavelengths. Scientists connect this to intense star formation activity, triggered by a collision between two interacting galaxies.
The merging process has left its signs: 2MASX J05210136-2521450 presents a single, bright nucleus and a spectacular outer structure that consists of a one-sided extension of the inner arms, with a tidal tail heading in the opposite direction, formed from material ripped out from the merging galaxies by gravitational forces.
The image is a combination of exposures taken by Hubble’s Advanced Camera for Surveys, using near-infrared and visible light. A version of this image was submitted to the Hubble’s Hidden Treasures image processing competition by contestant Luca Limatola.
[b][i]Credit: NASA/ESA/Hubble
Acknowledgement: Luca Limatola[/i][/b]
[url=http://www.spacetelescope.org/images/potw1318a/zoomable/][b][i]Zoomable Image[/i][/b][/url] [/quote]
[url=http://asterisk.apod.com/viewtopic.php?f=29&t=31275][size=85][b][i]<< Previous ESA/HEIC Hubble POTW[/i][/b][/size][/url]