Posted on 02/25/2012 7:44:12 AM PST by SunkenCiv
Explanation: The first identified compact galaxy group, Stephan's Quintet is featured in this eye-catching image constructed with data drawn from the extensive Hubble Legacy Archive. About 300 million light-years away, only four of these five galaxies are actually locked in a cosmic dance of repeated close encounters. The odd man out is easy to spot, though. The interacting galaxies, NGC 7319, 7318A, 7318B, and 7317 have an overall yellowish cast. They also tend to have distorted loops and tails, grown under the influence of disruptive gravitational tides. But the predominantly bluish galaxy, NGC 7320, is closer, just 40 million light-years distant, and isn't part of the interacting group. Stephan's Quintet lies within the boundaries of the high flying constellation Pegasus. At the estimated distance of the quartet of interacting galaxies, this field of view spans about 500,000 light-years. However, moving just beyond this field, above and to the left, astronomers can identify another galaxy, NGC 7320C, that is also 300 million light-years distant. Of course, including it would bring the interacting quartet back up to quintet status.
(Excerpt) Read more at 129.164.179.22 ...
[Image Data: Hubble Legacy Archive, ESA, NASA;Processing: Al Kelly]
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Is the stars and galaxies just the right height and color for Moonbeam Michigan Mittens ?
Nice photo. Observed them once with the help of a very large Dobsonian.
Five galaxies locked in a cosmic dance of close encounters? Oh, The Bump! I remember The Bump! Great dance! Kind of suggestive, though. Wait a minbute.....do those galaxies have clothes on? Astronomy porn? You should be ashamed of yourself. Moderator! Moderator! SunkenCiv is showing dirty pictures again!
Do they take requests?
I’d like “Stardust” by Hoagy Carmichael!
Bfl
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