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Hubble's dazzling display of two colliding galaxies
Phys.org ^ | March 8, 2019 | Rob Garner, NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center

Posted on 03/08/2019 3:14:44 PM PST by ETL

Located in the constellation of Hercules, about 230 million light-years away, NGC 6052 is a pair of colliding galaxies. They were first discovered in 1784 by William Herschel and were originally classified as a single irregular galaxy because of their odd shape. However, we now know that NGC 6052 actually consists of two galaxies that are in the process of colliding. This particular image of NGC 6052 was taken using the Wide Field Camera 3 on the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope.

A long time ago gravity drew the two galaxies together into the chaotic state we now observe. Stars from within both of the original galaxies now follow new trajectories caused by the new gravitational effects. However, actual collisions between stars themselves are very rare as stars are very small relative to the distances between them (most of a galaxy is empty space). Eventually the galaxies will fully merge to form a single, stable galaxy.

Our own galaxy, the Milky Way, will undergo a similar collision in the future with our nearest galactic neighbor, the Andromeda galaxy. However, this is not expected to happen for around 4 billion years.

Explore further: Image: Hubble views two galaxies merging

Provided by: NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center



TOPICS: Astronomy; Astronomy Picture of the Day; Chit/Chat; Science
KEYWORDS: astronomy; galaxies; galaxy; hst; hubble; ngc6052; science; stringtheory
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To: TXnMA

Definitely calls for sunblock.


61 posted on 03/10/2019 12:24:58 AM PST by SunkenCiv (and btw -- https://www.gofundme.com/for-rotator-cuff-repair-surgery)
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To: ETL

That’s the first thing I thought of - but it took 50 posts.

I know I’m getting old, but....

Okay - that was quite awhile ago. But I think I still have my Walkman around here somewhere!?


62 posted on 03/10/2019 12:39:53 AM PST by 21twelve (!)
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To: ETL

Was looking at the absolutely nuts video portrayal, posted on this thread about how Andromeda running into our galaxy would look like from earth— supposedly measured by NASA by observing the common motion of star systems in Andromeda over 8 years. Instantly went back to— over 8 years and how far away is Andromeda from our looking at this very OLD light representing these star “motions”—hmm? Also, and this is high math calc— how do they project the “direction” of the motion such that it will collide with our galaxy? What reference points— inertial navigation relative to what standard position. But-— am digressing.

Another video in the you tub sort was one titled “ Can the Sahara desert be Terra formed to prevent Climate Change?” And thought— the massive egos of morons who think that true change of climate (resulting in...weather) is something we can A)Control and B) at the same time be causing by theoretic actions of human existence (apparently including breathing). Idiot millenials and boomer whacko con artists— they could all use a full course of Physics. And not taught by their sub standard intellect Neil dG Tyson.


63 posted on 03/10/2019 9:39:01 AM PDT by John S Mosby (Sic Semper Tyrannis)
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To: 21twelve
That’s the first thing I thought of - but it took 50 posts.

The first thing you thought of after viewing a Hubble image of two colliding galaxies 230 million light years away was an old Reese's Peanut Butter Cups commercial?

64 posted on 03/10/2019 10:41:55 AM PDT by ETL (Obama-Hillary, REAL Russia collusion! Uranium-One Deal, Missile Defense, Iran Deal, Nukes: Click ETL)
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To: ETL

After reading the headline. And I’ve looked at enough Hubble images to know how amazing the Universe is. And the science and engineering behind it that reveals it to us.

What I REALLY love is how we learn one new thing, and then 20 other questions or behaviors show up that don’t seem to fit our previous theories.


65 posted on 03/10/2019 1:06:19 PM PDT by 21twelve (!)
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