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Astronomy Picture of the Day
NASA ^ | 4/26/09 | NASA

Posted on 04/26/2009 5:32:02 AM PDT by sig226


NGC 4676: When Mice Collide
Credit:
ACS Science & Engineering Team, Hubble Space Telescope, NASA

Explanation: These two mighty galaxies are pulling each other apart. Known as "The Mice" because they have such long tails, each spiral galaxy has likely already passed through the other. They will probably collide again and again until they coalesce. The long tails are created by the relative difference between gravitational pulls on the near and far parts of each galaxy. Because the distances are so large, the cosmic interaction takes place in slow motion -- over hundreds of millions of years. NGC 4676 lies about 300 million light-years away toward the constellation of Bernice's Hair (Coma Berenices) and are likely members of the Coma Cluster of Galaxies. The above picture was taken with the Hubble Space Telescope's Advanced Camera for Surveys which is more sensitive and images a larger field than previous Hubble cameras. The camera is scheduled to be serviced during the coming flight of Space Shuttle.


TOPICS: Astronomy Picture of the Day
KEYWORDS: apod

1 posted on 04/26/2009 5:32:02 AM PDT by sig226
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To: fnord; Number57; KevinDavis; rdb3; MNJohnnie; thoughtomator; RightWhale; proudofthesouth; ...

2 posted on 04/26/2009 5:32:42 AM PDT by sig226 (1/21/13 . . . He's not my president . . . Impeach Obama . . . whatever)
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To: sig226
These two mighty galaxies are pulling each other apart.

Actually pulling apart and together. Cool pic anyway.
3 posted on 04/26/2009 5:44:39 AM PDT by cripplecreek (The poor bastards have us surrounded.)
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To: sig226

Oh no, It looks like mother Mary with a light sabre......


4 posted on 04/26/2009 5:52:22 AM PDT by central_va (www.15thVirginia.org Co. C, Patrick Henry Rifles)
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To: sig226

Pulling each other apart.....

Actually, the larger Galaxy on the left seems to have the greater gravitational force and is sucking matter from the smaller. The tail on the right seems to be the path of attraction.


5 posted on 04/26/2009 5:57:03 AM PDT by bert (K.E. N.P. +12 . Crucify ! Crucify ! Crucify him!!)
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To: cripplecreek

Looking at all the galaxies in the background makes one realize how insignificant we are in this universe.


6 posted on 04/26/2009 6:04:02 AM PDT by Loud Mime (If Christians cannot unite in battle to save this nation, it will be lost)
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To: Loud Mime

All the proof of God I need is out there.


7 posted on 04/26/2009 6:08:59 AM PDT by cripplecreek (The poor bastards have us surrounded.)
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To: sig226
Here's a galaxy crash applet that's pretty fun.
8 posted on 04/26/2009 7:18:37 AM PDT by WSGilcrest (Hey. I can quote myself.)
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To: Loud Mime

Hundreds of millions of years, billions of stars and then there is the human race.been aound what, about 20,000 years.


9 posted on 04/26/2009 7:47:12 AM PDT by VaRepublican (I would propagate taglines but I don't know how.)
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To: VaRepublican
Such is the history of it. Man has been here 32,000 years. That it took a hundred million years to prepare the world for him is proof that that is what it was done for. I suppose it is. I dunno. If the Eiffel Tower were now representing the worlds's age, the skin of the paint on the pinnacle-knob at its summit would represent man's share of that age; and anybody would perceive that that skin was what the tower was built for. I reckon they would, I dunno.

Mark Twain, The Damned Human Race

10 posted on 04/26/2009 10:35:11 AM PDT by dr_lew
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To: dr_lew
This is why I love Freepers, There seems to be no bounds for intelligence, I know someone else wrote it but you had the knowledge of it and how to apply it.
11 posted on 04/26/2009 10:44:39 AM PDT by VaRepublican (I would propagate taglines but I don't know how.)
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To: Loud Mime

Hey! A little respect for the species, here. We are impacting our environment, warming the globe, our solar system (we know that the temp. of other planets is also rising) and we’re probably also warming up the Milky Way. Who are you calling insignificant?!


12 posted on 04/26/2009 8:08:32 PM PDT by definitelynotaliberal
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To: bert

Somebody replied to one of these threads that there is tremendous space between each star in a galaxy, and when two of them collide, not much actually happens. I suppose that on a planetary level, orbits can be affected and environments created or destroyed, but it’s similar to firing two shotgun through each other. Most of the pellets won’t collide.


13 posted on 04/26/2009 11:13:48 PM PDT by sig226 (1/21/13 . . . He's not my president . . . Impeach Obama . . . whatever)
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To: Loud Mime

I have never looked at any of God’s works and thought myself insignificant. Think about it.


14 posted on 04/26/2009 11:14:45 PM PDT by sig226 (1/21/13 . . . He's not my president . . . Impeach Obama . . . whatever)
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To: definitelynotaliberal
Milky Way Warming

I like it!!!

15 posted on 04/27/2009 4:18:13 AM PDT by Loud Mime (If Christians cannot unite in battle to save this nation, it will be lost)
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To: sig226

Looks like Obi Wan with a light saber...


16 posted on 04/27/2009 8:14:11 AM PDT by brytlea (Jesus loves me, this I know.)
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To: central_va

LOL I thought Obi Wan....maybe Mary...


17 posted on 04/27/2009 8:14:36 AM PDT by brytlea (Jesus loves me, this I know.)
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