Posted on 04/14/2023 12:36:19 PM PDT by MtnClimber
Explanation: Sharp telescopic views of NGC 3628 show a puffy galactic disk divided by dark dust lanes. Of course, this portrait of the magnificent, edge-on spiral galaxy puts some astronomers in mind of its popular moniker, the Hamburger Galaxy. It also reveals a small galaxy nearby (below), likely a satellite of NGC 3628, and a very faint but extensive tidal tail. The drawn out tail stretches for about 300,000 light-years, even beyond the left edge of the frame. NGC 3628 shares its neighborhood in the local universe with two other large spirals M65 and M66 in a grouping otherwise known as the Leo Triplet. Gravitational interactions with its cosmic neighbors are likely responsible for creating the tidal tail, as well as the extended flare and warp of this spiral's disk. The tantalizing island universe itself is about 100,000 light-years across and 35 million light-years away in the northern springtime constellation Leo.
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.
It’s such an odd shape. It would be cool to see an oblique angle view, if that were possible.
A much closer image.....................
They should call it The Cheeseburger Galaxy.
The Double Bacon Cheeseburger Galaxy.
Slice of onion, slice of tomato, hold the mayo!
lol
That’s the bottom half of a Louisville Slugger.
Somebody cracked the bat in cosmic baseball.
Bravo!
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