NGC 1531/2: Interacting Galaxies
Explanation:
This dramatic image of an
interacting pair of galaxies was
made using 8-meter
Gemini
South telescope at
Cerro Pachon,
Chile.
NGC 1531 is the background galaxy with a bright core just above center and
NGC 1532 is the foreground
spiral galaxy
laced with
dust lanes.
The pair is about 55 million
light-years away in the southern constellation
Eridanus.
These galaxies lie close enough together so that each feels
the influence of the other's
gravity.
The gravitational
tug-of-war was triggered
star formation
in the foreground spiral as evidenced by the young,
bright blue star clusters
along the upper edge of the front
spiral arm.
Though the spiral galaxy in
this pair is viewed nearly edge-on, astronomers believe the system is similar
to the face-on spiral and companion known as
M51, the Whirlpool Galaxy.
Authors & editors:
Robert Nemiroff
(MTU) &
Jerry Bonnell
(USRA)
NASA Web Site Statements, Warnings,
and Disclaimers
NASA Official: Jay Norris.
Specific
rights apply.
A service of:
LHEA at
NASA /
GSFC
& Michigan Tech. U.
