Free Republic
Browse · Search
Bloggers & Personal
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Two simpatico galaxies hold hands in this gorgeous view of space from Hubble
Mashable ^ | October 9, 2021 | Adam Rosenberg

Posted on 10/10/2021 10:15:01 AM PDT by American Number 181269513

These two galaxies are so tight, the stellar formation encompassing them both actually has a name of its own.

Say hello to Arp 91, a pair of spiral galaxies that are situated so close together (in relative terms, space is big) we can actually see their outer arms reaching out and colliding with one another. BFFs on an intergalactic scale.

Like a good marriage, these galaxies may share a name but they are their own individuals as well. In the center of the frame is NGC 5953. Just above it and slightly to the right is NGC 5954. They're both spiral galaxies, but their shapes differ slightly as a result of perspective. Earth is situated more than 100 million light-years away, so it's not like Hubble can zoom around to catch them at a different angle.

These interacting galaxies are drawn together by the immense inward pull of gravitational force that each one produces. Spiral galaxies are so-named and shaped because of their unique swirling shape around a bright center, which is typically a supermassive black hole.

The description accompanying this particular Hubble image notes that interacting galaxies like Arp 91 are just a glimpse at one stage of galactic evolution. Researchers believe that on a long enough timeline, colliding spiral galaxies eventually merge completely into one elliptical galaxy, populated primarily by older stars and with little of the gas and dust that characterizes the hazy areas of the two galaxies making up Arp 91.

Time and distance are the two major complicating factors when it comes to studying these interactions and determining the role they play (or not) in the ever-evolving landscape that we call outer space. Every elliptical galaxy we've observed could have at one point been multiple galaxies in close proximity, just like Arp 91. But it's all so far away and happening so slowly (in relative terms) that the history of human space study is barely a blip within the big picture.


TOPICS: Arts/Photography; Astronomy; Science
KEYWORDS: arp91; astronomy; galaxies; haltonarp; hubble; ngc5953; ngc5954; physics; science; stringtheory
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-38 next last
A stunning photo. The beauty of the universe is awe-inspiring.


1 posted on 10/10/2021 10:15:01 AM PDT by American Number 181269513
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: American Number 181269513

Gorgeous.


2 posted on 10/10/2021 10:18:39 AM PDT by Vaquero (Don't pick a fight with an old guy. If he is too old to fight, he'll just kill you. )
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: American Number 181269513

Mmmmmmm…..

Cinnamon Rolls for breakfast!

With coffee!


3 posted on 10/10/2021 10:20:49 AM PDT by blueunicorn6 ("A crack shot and a good dancer”)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: American Number 181269513
If they had red & green navigation lights, maybe the collision could have been avoided.

s/

4 posted on 10/10/2021 10:21:45 AM PDT by Deaf Smith (When a Texan takes his chances, chances will be taken that's for sure.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: American Number 181269513

Fraternization? Outrageous!
Neil deGrasse Tyson should demote them to nebulae and strip them of their status as galaxies!


5 posted on 10/10/2021 10:23:53 AM PDT by outofsalt (If history teaches us anything, it's that history rarely teaches anything.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: American Number 181269513

Which one has the right-ot-way?

Are they both obeying the Great Attractor?


6 posted on 10/10/2021 10:25:32 AM PDT by SuperLuminal (Where is another Sam Adams now that we desperately need him?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: American Number 181269513

Simpatico?

Sounds kind of Spanish to me.

“I’ll have to simpaticos and a Pepsi, please.”


7 posted on 10/10/2021 10:28:02 AM PDT by blueunicorn6 ("A crack shot and a good dancer”)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: American Number 181269513

Oh wowo!


8 posted on 10/10/2021 10:29:41 AM PDT by caww ( )
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: American Number 181269513

9 posted on 10/10/2021 10:31:16 AM PDT by caww ( )
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: 6SJ7; AdmSmith; AFPhys; Arkinsaw; allmost; aristotleman; autumnraine; bajabaja; ...

String Theory Ping List
Commercial Photography
· List topics · post a topic · subscribe · Google ·

10 posted on 10/10/2021 10:34:27 AM PDT by SunkenCiv (Imagine an imaginary menagerie manager imagining managing an imaginary menagerie.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: American Number 181269513

It is beautiful but the first thing that occured to me was a Borg Trans-warp conduit.


11 posted on 10/10/2021 10:36:50 AM PDT by DJ MacWoW (The Fed Gov is not one ring to rule them all)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: American Number 181269513

When I look at something that enormous and grand, it makes me realize how insignificantly small we are, and in a way makes whatever problems I have feel less important.


12 posted on 10/10/2021 10:37:17 AM PDT by aquila48 (Do not let them make you care! Guilting you is how they control you. )
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: blueunicorn6
You know this happened.


13 posted on 10/10/2021 10:39:55 AM PDT by Larry Lucido (Donate! Don't just post clickbait!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: DJ MacWoW

Resistance is futile.


14 posted on 10/10/2021 10:39:56 AM PDT by blueunicorn6 ("A crack shot and a good dancer”)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 11 | View Replies]

To: American Number 181269513

Cellular division


15 posted on 10/10/2021 10:40:57 AM PDT by PIF (They came for me and mine ... now its your turn)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: blueunicorn6

16 posted on 10/10/2021 10:42:26 AM PDT by DJ MacWoW (The Fed Gov is not one ring to rule them all)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 14 | View Replies]

To: Larry Lucido

And the sammiches tasted better.


17 posted on 10/10/2021 10:42:43 AM PDT by blueunicorn6 ("A crack shot and a good dancer”)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 13 | View Replies]

To: American Number 181269513

That’s us and Andromeda if you’re around about 6 billion years from now.


18 posted on 10/10/2021 10:43:35 AM PDT by Stosh
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: American Number 181269513

That’s a galactic mating dance - those galaxies are in the process of merging. Our galaxy and M31 in Andromeda are supposed to do something similar a few billion years down the line.


19 posted on 10/10/2021 10:50:56 AM PDT by AnotherUnixGeek
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: American Number 181269513
Earth is situated more than 100 million light-years away

I just can't wrap my mind around distances like that.........

The distance light travels in a year (which is a really long way) times 100 million.......

20 posted on 10/10/2021 11:04:19 AM PDT by Hot Tabasco (Without potatoes, life has no meaning......)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-38 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
Bloggers & Personal
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson