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Credit & Copyright: Dietmar Hager,
Torsten Grossmann
Explanation:
These two galaxies are far far away, 12 million light-years distant
toward the northern constellation of the Great Bear.
On the left, with grand spiral arms and bright yellow core
is spiral galaxy M81, some 100,000
light-years across.
On the right marked by red gas and dust clouds, is irregular galaxy
M82.
The pair have been locked in gravitational combat for a billion years.
Gravity
from each galaxy has profoundly affected the other during
a series of cosmic close encounters.
Their last go-round lasted about 100 million years and
likely raised density waves rippling around
M81, resulting in the richness of
M81's
spiral arms.
M82
was left with violent star forming regions and
colliding gas clouds so energetic the galaxy glows in X-rays.
In the next few billion years, their
continuing gravitational encounters will result in a merger, and a
single
galaxy will remain.
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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: colliding galaxies - M 81 - M 82
Publications with words: colliding galaxies - M 81 - M 82
See also:
- APOD: 2024 April 15 Á The Cigar Galaxy from Hubble and Webb
- APOD: 2023 September 25 Á Arp 142: The Hummingbird Galaxy
- APOD: 2023 August 2 Á M82: Galaxy with a Supergalactic Wind
- APOD: 2023 January 23 Á The Colliding Spiral Galaxies of Arp 274
- Galaxy Wars: M81 and M82
- NGC 1316: After Galaxies Collide
- NGC 4676: When Mice Collide