Hubble Space Telescope Captures Stunning Image of Colliding Galaxies
By Chen Juncun | March 26, 2023
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s (NASA) Hubble Space Telescope has recently unveiled a captivating image showcasing the collision and merging of two distinct types of galaxies.
On September 22, NASA released the photograph capturing the celestial object known as Arp 107, an amalgamation of two colliding galaxies located approximately 465 million light years away from Earth.
Notably, the galaxy occupying the left side of the picture is visibly larger. It belongs to a category of energetic galaxies with a dazzling core, referred to as Seyfert galaxies. Despite the core’s luminosity, radiation emanates from various parts of the galaxy, including spiral structures, star-forming regions, and dust lanes.
The galaxy on the right side of the image appears smaller in comparison. Interestingly, the two galaxies are interconnected by a seemingly delicate bridge composed of dust and gas.
In 1966, the renowned American astronomer Halton Arp produced the “Atlas of Peculiar Galaxies,” featuring 338 galaxies of distinctive shapes, most of which were engaged in interactions and mergers. Arp 107 is one such peculiar galaxy, exhibiting similarities to others possessing one or three spiral arms or shells.
Under its observing program, the Hubble Space Telescope continues to study Arp 107. This initiative selects galaxies from the Special Galaxy Atlas, offering the public a glimpse of these extraordinary and enigmatic celestial formations.
Aside from the collision of two galaxies, the Hubble Space Telescope has also captured intriguing imagery of three galaxies interacting.
Last year, NASA shared visuals of Arp 248, a trio of spiral galaxies famously known as the “Wilder Triple Galaxy.” These galaxies, situated approximately 200 million light years away in the Virgo constellation, are characterized by a striking bridge connecting the two larger spiral galaxies. Termed the tidal tail, this structure is comprised of extended streams of stars and interstellar gas, formed through the gravitational attraction between the galaxies.
The two large spiral galaxies in Arp 248 dominate the upper and lower left portions of the image, while a smaller orange spiral galaxy can be observed in the background, situated between them.
The Hubble Space Telescope, along with its Advanced Camera for Surveys, diligently seeks out peculiar galaxies that can ignite public interest and also provide invaluable resources for the James Webb Space Telescope and the Atacama Large Millimeter and Submillimeter Array.
Editor in charge: Li Ming
[The Epoch Times, Medi 26, 2023](Epoch Times reporter Chen Juncun reported) The Hubble Space Telescope of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) captured a strange picture. It shows two different types of galaxies colliding and merging.
NASA released this image on September 22. The object, called Arp 107, combines two colliding galaxies about 465 million light years away from Earth.
NASA notes that the galaxy on the left side of the photo is larger. It is a type of energetic galaxy with a bright core called Seyfert galaxies. Although the core of such a galaxy is very bright, radiation can be seen from all parts of the galaxy, including spiral structures, star-forming regions, and dust lanes.
The galaxy on the right side of the picture is smaller. The two galaxies are connected by what appears to be a thin bridge of dust and gas.
The American astronomer Halton Arp published the Atlas of Peculiar Galaxies in 1966, which contained 338 peculiarly shaped galaxies, most of which were interacting and merging galaxies. Including Arp 107, there are also some peculiar galaxies with one or three spiral arms or shells – similar structures.
The Hubble Space Telescope is observing Arp 107 under an observing program. This observing program selects galaxies from the Special Galaxy Atlas for observation, in part to provide the public with images of these spectacular and hard-to-define galaxies.
In addition to two galaxies colliding with each other, the Hubble Space Telescope has also captured images of three galaxies interacting.
NASA released images of Arp 248 last year. Arp 248 consists of three spiral galaxies, also known as the Wild Triplet. These galaxies are located in the constellation Virgo, about 200 million light years away from Earth.
Arp 248 consists of three spiral galaxies, also known as the Wilder Triple Galaxy. (NASA)
In this image there are two large spiral galaxies Arp 248, located in the upper and lower left of the image. A glowing bridge appears to connect the two galaxies. This structure, known as the tidal tail, contains extended streams of stars and interstellar gas, formed by the gravitational pull between the two galaxies.
These two galaxies are almost face to face with Earth, and there is a small orange spiral galaxy in the background between them, which we can see to the side.
The Hubble Space Telescope is using its Advanced Camera for Surveys to look for strange galaxies that it and the James Webb Space Telescope and the Atacama Large Millimeter and Submillimeter Array can provide. and pictures of these strange galaxies can also arouse the interest of the public. ◇
Editor in charge: Li Ming #
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