Astronomy Picture of the Day 5-06-02

NASA ^ | 5-06-02 | Robert Nemiroff and Jerry Bonnell

[petuniasevan]

Astronomy Picture of the Day

Discover the cosmos! Each day a different image or photograph of our fascinating universe is featured, along with a brief explanation written by a professional astronomer.

2002 May 6

NGC 4676: When Mice Collide
Credit: ACS Science & Engineering Team, NASA

Explanation: These two galaxies are pulling each other apart. Known as "The Mice" because they have such long tails, each spiral galaxy has likely already passed through the other and will probably collide again and again until they coalesce. The long tails are created by the relative difference between gravitational pulls on the near and far parts of each galaxy. Scrolling right will show the very long tail of one of the galaxies. Because the distances are so large, the whole thing takes place in slow motion -- over hundreds of millions of years. NGC 4676 lies about 300 million light-years away toward the constellation of Coma Berenices and are likely members of the Coma Cluster of Galaxies. The above picture was taken with the Hubble Space Telescope's new Advanced Camera for Surveys which is more sensitive and images a larger field than previous Hubble cameras. The camera's increased sensitivity has imaged, serendipitously, galaxies far in the distance scattered about the frame.

[petuniasevan]

Notice all this interaction, repeated collision, and eventual coalescing and merging of these 2 galaxies. Now here's the strange part. The chances are vanishingly small that there have been, and will be, any stellar collisions. For all their vastness and brightness, these "star cities" are overwhelmingly empty space.

Notice all the other galaxies in the background! Hubble is proving its worth!

Get on the APOD PING list!

[petuniasevan]

APOD PING!

[mseltzer]

Thanks. I've admired your posts from afar for a long time.

[LantzALot]

...serendipitously, galaxies far in the distance scattered about the frame.

As I suspected, the link is to the famous picture made into a poster -- one I have framed and hanging in the room I now sit in.

[petuniasevan]

Now THIS is art...

We puny humans are humbled and amazed...

[LantzALot]

If we're not, we ought to be.

[leadpenny]

I know it has been mentioned before but this is definitely one to click on to get an even better view.

[petuniasevan]

Yes, clicking on the image will give you the BIG version; but everyone be forewarned, it takes time to download.

I'm glad to see SOME on my PING list show up and post.
I'd like to hear from all whom I PING, even if it's only for a "Wow" or "Bttt".

[TxBec]

I say WOW everyday and my kids do too.. in fact a couple of times we have all said WOW in unison :)

[glock rocks]

thanks for yet another great new wallpaper. now, i think i need a bigger monitor!

bttt.

[fnord]

bump :-)

[aomagrat]

I'm speechless.

[headsonpikes]

Thanks for the ping. I'm on a dial-up, but the picture was worth the wait.

I'm astonished at the quality of the Hubble photos!

Is the probability of star-collision during a galactic 'pass-through' really that remote? Is there a handy link? ;^)

[2Trievers]

Thanks for all you do here petunia! Fascinating!

[herewego]

amazing.. speechless

[Joan912]

Holy catfish, how beautiful!