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Mice colliding galaxies
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Mice colliding galaxies
The Mice colliding galaxies, optical image taken by the Hubble Space Telescopes new Advanced Camera for Surveys (ACS) on April 7th 2002. These galaxies (NGC 4676) were once spiral in shape, but the gravitational interaction has thrown off long tails of stars and distorted their nuclei (yellow). It has also caused a burst of star formation activity, as seen by the abundance of hot young blue stars. The galaxies will combine to form one large elliptical galaxy in several million years time. The Mice are around 300 million light years from Earth in the constellation Coma Berenices
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Media ID 6443937
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Advanced Camera For Surveys Astrophysics Colliding Collision Cosmology Distorted Distortion Galactic Galaxies Galaxy Hubble Space Telescope Interacting Interaction Optical Tail Tails Universe Coma Berenices
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This breathtaking print captures the mesmerizing sight of the Mice colliding galaxies, a celestial event that occurred approximately 300 million light years away from Earth in the constellation Coma Berenices. Taken by the Hubble Space Telescope's Advanced Camera for Surveys on April 7th, 2002, this optical image showcases the remarkable aftermath of gravitational interaction between two once-spiral shaped galaxies known as NGC 4676. The intense gravitational forces at play have caused these galaxies to lose their original form and instead display long tails of stars stretching outwards. The nuclei of these galactic bodies appear distorted in a striking yellow hue. Additionally, this collision has triggered an explosion of star formation activity within them, evident through the abundance of hot young blue stars scattered throughout. As time progresses over several million years, these colliding galaxies will eventually merge into one large elliptical galaxy. This photograph serves as a testament to both the destructive and transformative power found within our vast universe. Captured with precision by Science Photo Library's expertise in space photography, this image offers us a glimpse into the wonders of cosmology and astrophysics. It reminds us just how small we are in comparison to the grandeur and complexity present beyond our own planet Earth.
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