Credit: ESA/Hubble & NASA
Acknowledgement: Luca Limatola
Acknowledgement: Luca Limatola
This new image from the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope captures an
ongoing cosmic collision between two galaxies — a spiral galaxy is in
the process of colliding with a lenticular galaxy. The collision looks
almost as if it is popping out of the screen in 3D, with parts of the
spiral arms clearly embracing the lenticular galaxy’s bulge.
The image also reveals further evidence of the collision. There is a
bright stream of stars coming out from the merging galaxies, extending
out towards the right of the image. The bright spot in the middle of
the plume, known as ESO 576-69, is what makes this image unique. This
spot is believed to be the nucleus of the former spiral galaxy, which
was ejected from the system during the collision and is now being
shredded by tidal forces to produce the visible stellar stream.
A version of this image was entered into the Hubble’s Hidden Treasures image processing competition by contestant Luca Limatola.
Source: ESA/HUBBLE - Space Telescope
