Posted on 10/18/2020 2:35:50 PM PDT by MtnClimber
Explanation: What's happening to this spiral galaxy? Although details remain uncertain, it surely has to do with an ongoing battle with its smaller galactic neighbor. The featured galaxy is labelled UGC 1810 by itself, but together with its collisional partner is known as Arp 273. The overall shape of UGC 1810 -- in particular its blue outer ring -- is likely a result of wild and violent gravitational interactions. This ring's blue color is caused by massive stars that are blue hot and have formed only in the past few million years. The inner galaxy appears older, redder, and threaded with cool filamentary dust. A few bright stars appear well in the foreground, unrelated to UGC 1810, while several galaxies are visible well in the background. Arp 273 lies about 300 million light years away toward the constellation of Andromeda. Quite likely, UGC 1810 will devour its galactic sidekick over the next billion years and settle into a classic spiral form.
(Excerpt) Read more at apod.nasa.gov ...
For more detail go to the link and click on the image for a high definition image. You can then zoom by moving the magnifying glass over an area and then clicking. The side bars will move the zoomed area over the photograph.
Pinging the APOD list.
Looks like an enormous, beautiful eye.
Who would’ve known galaxies “duke it out”? :-)
Magnificent image as always.
Looks like Hurricane Katrina.
Looks like a blue cheeseburger.
No fries.
Chips! Chips!
Ooooo. Nice One!
Not bad considering the Hubble Space Telescope was originally designed to last 15 years.
Unless the telescope suffers a catastrophic failure that renders all its instruments unusable or eliminates the telescopes ability to point at targets, HST will continue operating at least through June 30, 2021. Thats how long NASA has officially funded its operations.
The telescopes instruments are likely to last beyond 2030, when it is expected to dive into the atmosphere due to aerodynamic drag.
In a wider view that includes it’s companion galaxy, it looks like a rose.
https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap191120.html
Gravity always wins........ALWAYS..................
Amazing to get such a fab shot only 340 miles above earth. This cgi is inspirational
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