Posted on 08/21/2009 6:16:28 AM PDT by paul in cape
The Whale and the Hockey Stick
Explanation: NGC 4631 is a big beautiful spiral galaxy seen edge-on (top right) only 25 million light-years away towards the small northern constellation Canes Venatici. This galaxy's slightly distorted wedge shape suggests to some a cosmic herring and to others the popular moniker of The Whale Galaxy.
Either way, it is similar in size to our own Milky Way.
In this gorgeous color image, the Whale's dark interstellar dust clouds, yellowish core, and young blue star clusters are easy to spot.
A companion galaxy, the small elliptical NGC 4627, appears above the Whale Galaxy. At the lower left is another distorted galaxy, the hockey stick-shaped NGC 4656.
The distortions and mingling trails of gas detected at other wavelengths suggest that all three galaxies have had close encounters with each other in their past.
The Whale Galaxy is also known to have spouted a halo of hot gas glowing in x-rays.
WOW!
amazing
God made us a Universe that is not only eminently functional but fantastically beautiful.
If you get a minute, thank Him :)
bflr
I really appreciate these posts. They tend to brighten my day. The one from the other day of the Milky Way over the Badlands was fantastic!
Is that a smoke ring coming out of its blowhole?
I am admittedly of limited intellect - but I fail to see how anyone can look at this sight, ponder the vastness of the universe, and not believe in God. It’s simply breathtakingly beautiful.
That number prompts a question as to the age of our Earth.
Psalm 19
1 The heavens declare the glory of God;
the skies proclaim the work of his hands.
2 Day after day they pour forth speech;
night after night they display knowledge.
3 There is no speech or language
where their voice is not heard.
Adam was created as a mature man.
Extrapolate, with omnipotence, to the entire universe.
Amen!
If you click on the link you will view a larger version with even more beauty. The photo looks almost 3D and is perfect in every way. Just when you think you have seen it all God revels.
I’ve heard that argument almost my whole life, but never worded so concisely, or effectively. That’s beautiful.
It is he that sitteth upon the circle of the earth, and the inhabitants thereof are as grasshoppers; that stretcheth out the heavens as a curtain, and spreadeth them out as a tent to dwell in
Isaiah 40:22
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Many who are far more intelligent than me, say this reference to “strectching out the heavens” (rapidly at one time) is a key to undersanding what we human pereceive as being billions of years of creation in the universe
As it is edge-on, how do we know it is a spiral galaxy?
I keep looking for my Purpose, but it keeps ditching me...
They keep sending us the cleaning bill.
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