Posted on 03/27/2021 3:00:11 PM PDT by MtnClimber
Explanation: Some 60 million light-years away in the southerly constellation Corvus, two large galaxies are colliding. Stars in the two galaxies, cataloged as NGC 4038 and NGC 4039, very rarely collide in the course of the ponderous cataclysm that lasts for hundreds of millions of years. But the galaxies' large clouds of molecular gas and dust often do, triggering furious episodes of star formation near the center of the cosmic wreckage. Spanning over 500 thousand light-years, this stunning view also reveals new star clusters and matter flung far from the scene of the accident by gravitational tidal forces. The remarkably sharp ground-based image includes narrowband data that highlights the characteristic red glow of atomic hydrogen gas in star-forming regions. The suggestive overall visual appearance of the extended arcing structures gives the galaxy pair its popular name - The Antennae.
For more detail go to the link and click on the image for a high definition image. You can then move the magnifying glass cursor then click to zoom in and click again to zoom out. When zoomed in you can scan by moving the side bars on the bottom and right side of the image.
looks kinds like a sonogram of a baby
500,000 light years away from Earth, a distance that is impossible to comprehend, yet somehow we are looking at thru a telescope and taking pictures of it...it blows my mind....
At first you’d think that is two stars colliding, bit it is two galaxies colliding. Wow.
When will so-called science journalists develop an IQ above 45?
The accurate statement is: "two large galaxies have collided.
Otherwise, good article...
The galaxies are 60 million light years from earth. It takes light 500,000 years to travel from one side of one galaxy to the far side of the other galaxy...traveling 6 trillion miles a year.
If you turn it 90 degrees to the right, it looks like a seagull with his caboose on fire.
bttt
I'm hearing the theme from 2001: A Space Odyssey in my head.
It would be weird if the universe is merely a gigantic womb inside something much bigger.
This one’s very cool.
#4. You’re gonna need a bigger diaper when it is born.
Paying insurance for property damage when this colliding ends is going to be a bitch. Never buy galaxies colliding insurance policies. You aren’t go to collect on it.
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