Posted on 09/15/2012 10:53:41 AM PDT by SunkenCiv
Explanation: Giant elliptical galaxy M60 and spiral galaxy NGC 4647 do look like an odd couple in this sharp cosmic portrait from the Hubble Space Telescope. But they are found in a region of space where galaxies tend to gather, on the eastern side of the nearby Virgo Galaxy Cluster. About 54 million light-years distant, bright M60's simpler egg-like shape is created by its randomly swarming older stars, while NGC 4647's young blue stars, gas and dust are organized into winding arms rotating in a flattened disk. Spiral NGC 4647 is estimated to be more distant than M60, some 63 million light-years away. Also known as Arp 116, the pair of galaxies may be on the verge of a significant gravitational encounter, though. M60 (aka NGC 4649) is about 120,000 light-years across. The smaller NGC 4647 spans around 90,000 light-years, about the size of our own Milky Way.
(Excerpt) Read more at 129.164.179.22 ...
[Credit: NASA, ESA, Hubble Heritage Team (STScI/AURA)]
Looks very lonely out there!
Thanks very much, SunkenCiv.
|
M60 is the loneliest number that you ever knew. ;’)
Considering the fact that we keep finding planets where we don’t expect to find them, maybe not as lonely as it looks. Whether there is anyone there worth holding a conversation with is another matter.
First Planets Found Around Sun-Like Stars in a Cluster
http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/news.php?release=2012-289
“Sharp cosmic portrait”........ohhhhhhh.....Senior pictures......they’ll look good in the yearbook.
LOL.
Thanks, but you go first, cripplecreek!
:)
I will never, ever get tired of reading your posts. Thank you!
Thanks Caipirabob!
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.