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Astronomy Picture of the Day -- Merging NGC 2623
NASA ^ | October 19, 2012 | (see photo credit)

Posted on 10/19/2012 5:29:22 PM PDT by SunkenCiv

Explanation: NGC 2623 is really two galaxies that are becoming one. Seen to be in the final stages of a titanic galaxy merger, the pair lies some 300 million light-years distant toward the constellation Cancer. The violent encounter between two galaxies that may have been similar to the Milky Way has produced widespread star formation near a luminous core and along eye-catching tidal tails. Filled with dust, gas, and young blue star clusters, the opposing tidal tails extend well over 50,000 light-years from the merged nucleus. Likely triggered by the merger, accretion by a supermassive black hole drives activity within the nuclear region. The star formation and its active galactic nucleus make NGC 2623 bright across the spectrum. This sharp cosmic snapshot of NGC 2623 (aka Arp 243) is based on Hubble Legacy Archive image data that also reveals even more distant background galaxies scattered through the field of view.

October 19, 2012

(Excerpt) Read more at 129.164.179.22 ...


TOPICS: Astronomy; Astronomy Picture of the Day; Science
KEYWORDS: apod; arp243; astronomy; haltonarp; ngc2623; science
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[Credit: Hubble Legacy Archive, ESA, NASA; Processing: Martin Pugh]

1 posted on 10/19/2012 5:29:23 PM PDT by SunkenCiv
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To: SunkenCiv

There you are just spacing out and suddenly you get sucked into something...

Great pic. Thanks for the APOD.


2 posted on 10/19/2012 5:32:30 PM PDT by bigheadfred
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To: SunkenCiv

Can you imagine just sitting home watching the Simpsons one night when all of a sudden there is a knock at the door, demanding that you evacuate your home because your galaxy just collided with another one?


3 posted on 10/19/2012 5:50:16 PM PDT by VeniVidiVici (Dumb or Dumber? Biden or Obama?)
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To: bigheadfred

It’s amazing how two galaxies can wander through the same space and the disruption to much of each galaxy could be minimal-to-nonexistent. Lotta space involved. :’)


4 posted on 10/19/2012 5:51:04 PM PDT by SunkenCiv (https://secure.freerepublic.com/donate/)
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To: VeniVidiVici

It would be a problem of a whole another magnitude. ;’)


5 posted on 10/19/2012 5:54:12 PM PDT by SunkenCiv (https://secure.freerepublic.com/donate/)
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To: SunkenCiv

6 posted on 10/19/2012 5:57:28 PM PDT by bigheadfred
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To: SunkenCiv

Make sure your galaxy accelerates to match the speed of the other galaxies. Turn on your left turn signal and glance over your left shoulder to make sure no other galaxies are in the way. Then, merge with the other galaxies. If a galaxy refuses to move and let you merge, then sound your horn and flip them off.


7 posted on 10/19/2012 5:59:57 PM PDT by blueunicorn6 ("A crack shot and a good dancer")
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To: bigheadfred
Photobucket

Yeah my neighbors think I'm nuts taking pictures of clouds but they come in handy.
8 posted on 10/19/2012 6:00:23 PM PDT by cripplecreek (What does it profit a man if he gains the whole world but loses his soul?)
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To: cripplecreek; Daffynition

Someone else takes pictures of clouds (besides me and you cc). I think it is Daffy.


9 posted on 10/19/2012 6:03:13 PM PDT by bigheadfred
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To: bigheadfred
Clouds are a great starting point for creating space art.

Photobucket
10 posted on 10/19/2012 6:07:51 PM PDT by cripplecreek (What does it profit a man if he gains the whole world but loses his soul?)
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To: brytlea; cripplecreek; decimon; bigheadfred; KoRn; Grammy; married21; steelyourfaith; Mmogamer; ...

:') Just a bonus graphic for today.
Fearful Obama Falling Faster Than The Speed of Light
Looks like a frog feeding on a fly.


11 posted on 10/19/2012 6:13:41 PM PDT by SunkenCiv (https://secure.freerepublic.com/donate/)
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Hey Zero! Hit the bricks!

Hey Zero!  Hit the bricks!

12 posted on 10/19/2012 6:17:42 PM PDT by SunkenCiv (https://secure.freerepublic.com/donate/)
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To: cripplecreek; bigheadfred

Good idea.


13 posted on 10/19/2012 6:20:42 PM PDT by SunkenCiv (https://secure.freerepublic.com/donate/)
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To: blueunicorn6

;’)


14 posted on 10/19/2012 6:21:11 PM PDT by SunkenCiv (https://secure.freerepublic.com/donate/)
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To: bigheadfred

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iW_qGMRmJAw

http://www.youtube.com/results?q=vangelis+spiral&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&tab=w1


15 posted on 10/19/2012 6:23:37 PM PDT by SunkenCiv (https://secure.freerepublic.com/donate/)
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To: SunkenCiv

Yeah, that's racist.

16 posted on 10/19/2012 6:26:20 PM PDT by bigheadfred
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To: VeniVidiVici

Galaxy PD cop: “Sir, you’ve got 32 million years to gather up any belongings you can’t do without but after that we’re gonna have to insist you’re out of here.”


17 posted on 10/19/2012 6:30:18 PM PDT by TigersEye (dishonorabledisclosure.com - OPSEC (give them support))
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To: TigersEye
LOL!

Here's another:

Damnit! I TOLD you we should have left earlier!!


18 posted on 10/19/2012 6:38:57 PM PDT by VeniVidiVici (Dumb or Dumber? Biden or Obama?)
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To: VeniVidiVici

I’m such a procrastinator. I knew this was coming five million years ago! lol


19 posted on 10/19/2012 6:48:46 PM PDT by TigersEye (dishonorabledisclosure.com - OPSEC (give them support))
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To: SunkenCiv; blueunicorn6
As per your command. Two channels playing with a 5 second differentiation. Aw here...
20 posted on 10/19/2012 6:51:47 PM PDT by bigheadfred
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