Astronomy Picture of the Day - Arp 142: The Hummingbird Galaxy

NASA ^ | 25 Sep, 2023 | Image Credit: NASA, ESA, Hubble, HLA; Processing & Copyright: Basudeb Chakrabarti

[MtnClimber]

Explanation: What's happening to this spiral galaxy? Just a few hundred million years ago, NGC 2936, the upper of the two large galaxies shown at the bottom, was likely a normal spiral galaxy -- spinning, creating stars -- and minding its own business. But then it got too close to the massive elliptical galaxy NGC 2937, just below, and took a turn. Sometimes dubbed the Hummingbird Galaxy for its iconic shape, NGC 2936 is not only being deflected but also being distorted by the close gravitational interaction. Behind filaments of dark interstellar dust, bright blue stars form the nose of the hummingbird, while the center of the spiral appears as an eye. Alternatively, the galaxy pair, together known as Arp 142, look to some like Porpoise or a penguin protecting an egg. The featured re-processed image showing Arp 142 in great detail was taken recently by the Hubble Space Telescope. Arp 142 lies about 300 million light years away toward the constellation of the Water Snake (Hydra). In a billion years or so the two galaxies will likely merge into one larger galaxy.

[MtnClimber]

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.

[MtnClimber]

[MtnClimber]

Pinging the APOD list.

🪐 🌟 🌌 🍔

[Seruzawa]

Weird. An astronomical artifact that actually looks like it’s namesake

[DannyTN]

I hate those translucent vampire hummingbirds.

[MtnClimber]

I hate those translucent vampire hummingbirds.

But, they don't hate you. They think you would be a great snack.

[henbane]

[AFB-XYZ]

I must still be hung over. It reminds me of a Nazgul. Heh.

[Bounced2X]

I hate those translucent vampire hummingbirds.

Are you a red head?

[Bounced2X]

We have Ruby Throated Hummingbirds where I live. ;O)

[SkyDancer]

How far away is it?

[MS.BEHAVIN]

” Arp 142 lies about 300 million light years away toward the constellation of the Water Snake (Hydra).”

[Osage Orange]

Love your posts, FRiend.

[telescope115]

It really does look like a hummingbird….COOL!

[telescope115]

Hummingbirds are beautiful. I can’t put out a bird feeder of any kind because my wife had a bird phobia.
I love bird watching and she is scared to death of them.

[MtnClimber]

The blue is new star formation. It is interesting to see how the disruption affected where the new star formation is happening.

[telescope115]

The blue is new star formation. It is interesting to see how the disruption affected where the new star formation is happening.

It’s probably too faint to see in my humble scope. I would probably see it just fine in our club’s 18” dob.

[Seruzawa]

An evil hummingbird!