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Astronomy Picture of the Day - Exploring the Antennae
APOD.NASA.gov ^
| 31 Mar, 2022
| Image Credit & Copyright: Dietmar Hager, Eric Benson
Posted on 03/31/2022 3:58:12 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, an accumulation of 88 hours of exposure captured during 2012-2021, follows the faint tidal tails and distant background galaxies in the field of view. The suggestive overall visual appearance of the extended arcing structures gives the galaxy pair, also known as Arp 244, its popular name - The Antennae.
TOPICS: Astronomy; Astronomy Picture of the Day; Science
KEYWORDS: nasa
To be added or removed from the Astronomy Picture of the Day ping list please send me a request via "Private Reply" (Mail). 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.
To: MtnClimber
2
posted on
03/31/2022 3:58:27 PM PDT
by
MtnClimber
(For photos of Colorado scenery and wildlife, click on mycreen name for my FR home page.)
To: 21stCenturion; 21twelve; 4everontheRight; abb; AFB-XYZ; AFPhys; America_Right; AZ .44 MAG; ...
Pinging the APOD list.
🪐 🌟 🌌 🍔
3
posted on
03/31/2022 3:59:08 PM PDT
by
MtnClimber
(For photos of Colorado scenery and wildlife, click on mycreen name for my FR home page.)
To: MtnClimber
Rotated 90 degrees to the right, it's a heart. Or a mouse with long whiskers.
Rotated 90 degrees to the left, it's a celestial ass.
4
posted on
03/31/2022 4:09:59 PM PDT
by
DannyTN
To: DannyTN
Two sea horses doing a mating dance maybe? :-)
5
posted on
03/31/2022 4:12:45 PM PDT
by
AFB-XYZ
(Stand up, or bend over)
To: MtnClimber
6
posted on
03/31/2022 4:13:51 PM PDT
by
BenLurkin
((The above is not a statement of fact. It is either opinion, or satire. Or both.))
To: AFB-XYZ
Clown heads kissing?
7
posted on
03/31/2022 4:19:18 PM PDT
by
DannyTN
To: AFB-XYZ
Two sperm cells fighting for dominance and birthright.
8
posted on
03/31/2022 4:20:17 PM PDT
by
Deaf Smith
(When a Texan takes his chances, chances will be taken that's for sure.)
To: MtnClimber
Looks like they were really attracted to each other.
9
posted on
03/31/2022 4:34:11 PM PDT
by
ComputerGuy
(Heavily-medicated for your protection)
To: DannyTN
To: MtnClimber
Seems like the topmost cluster has much more mass (and gravitational pull) than the lower one.
11
posted on
03/31/2022 5:40:45 PM PDT
by
Gaffer
To: Deaf Smith
I’m rooting for the one on the right. Heh. :-)
12
posted on
03/31/2022 6:17:16 PM PDT
by
AFB-XYZ
(Stand up, or bend over)
To: DannyTN
Hunter Biden and Stormy Daniels! I just knew it!
13
posted on
03/31/2022 6:17:55 PM PDT
by
AFB-XYZ
(Stand up, or bend over)
To: MtnClimber
I saw a JWT picture of this giant ball with a very bright globe in it. I haven’t been able to find it since but my reaction was HEAVEN.
14
posted on
03/31/2022 6:27:28 PM PDT
by
mcshot
(Awe shucks and a whole lot more!)
To: MtnClimber
The suggestive overall visual appearance of the extended arcing structures gives the galaxy pair, also known as Arp 244, its popular name - The Antennae.It's not a feature it's a bug!
15
posted on
03/31/2022 6:30:42 PM PDT
by
TigersEye
(Is it time for a general strike yet?)
To: MtnClimber
Damn, I have a dirty mind.
16
posted on
03/31/2022 7:08:25 PM PDT
by
ApplegateRanch
(Love me, love my guns!)
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