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Credit & Copyright: Acquisition - Martin Winder,
Processing - Warren Keller
Explanation:
Galaxies NGC 5216 (top right) and NGC 5218 really do look like
they are connected by a string.
Of course, that string is
a
cosmic trail of gas, dust, and stars about 22,000 light-years long.
Also known
as
Keenan's system (for its
discoverer)
and Arp 104, the interacting galaxy pair is some 17 million
light-years away in the constellation Ursa Major.
The
debris trail that joins them, along with NGC 5218's comma-shaped
extension and the distorted arms of NGC 5216 are a consequence of
mutual gravitational tides that disrupt the galaxies as they repeatedly
swing close to one another.
Drawn out over billions of years,
the encounters will likely result in
their merger into a single galaxy of stars.
Such spectacular
galactic mergers are now understood to be a normal
part of the evolution of galaxies, including our own
Milky Way.
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NASA Web Site Statements, Warnings, and Disclaimers
NASA Official: Jay Norris. Specific rights apply.
A service of: LHEA at NASA / GSFC
& Michigan Tech. U.
Based on Astronomy Picture
Of the Day
Publications with keywords: interacting galaxies
Publications with words: interacting galaxies
See also: