240403 - C60 "Antennae" colliding galaxies
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ASTRO:
type=2x Interlacing spiral galaxies const=Corvus mag=10.9 dist~45 M ly size~500 k ly IMAGE: location=EB Driveway BrtlCls=4 moon=34% (new) exposure=CMOS OSC: 72x180s (3.6h), G100 EQUIPMENT: camera=ZWO ASI2600MC-Pro optics=ES102 w24mmEP 1.7x prjctn, F(eff)=1238mm, f/12.1 filter=Optolong L-Pro LPS mount=Celestron AVX guiding=Orion 60x240mm, ZWO ASi224MC SOFTWARE: acquisition=Stellarium, APT, PHD2, processing=PixInsight, RCAstro, PhotoshopCC, APF-R, Lumenzia, LrC |
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C60, the "Antennae" Galaxies (also known as NGC 4038/NGC 4039 and Caldwell 60/Caldwell 61) are a pair of interacting galaxies in the constellation Corvus. They are currently going through a starburst phase, in which the collision of clouds of gas and dust, with entangled magnetic fields, causes rapid star formation.
The Antennae galaxies are undergoing a galactic collision. They are known as the "Antennae" because of the two long tails of stars, gas and dust ejected from the galaxies as a result of the collision, which resemble an insect's antennae.
Each of the 2 galaxies are appx the same size as our Milky Way. Their nuclei are in the process of joining to become one giant galaxy. Most galaxies probably undergo at least one significant collision in their lifetimes. This is likely the future of our own Milky Way when it eventually collides with the Andromeda Galaxy; an event not anticipated for many millions of years from now. This understanding of galaxies' collisions and merger sequences was developed largely by modelling the 2 galaxies in the Antennae.
A recent study finds that these interacting galaxies are located appx 45 M light-years away from Earth.
About 1.2 billion years ago, when Earth was in its Mesoproterozoic Era and the majority of life was still aquatic, the Antennae were two separate galaxies. NGC 4038 was a barred spiral galaxy and NGC 4039 was a spiral galaxy. Then 900 million years ago simple multi-celled organisms were starting to appear on Earth, and because of their mutual gravitational attraction the 2 galaxies began to approach one another. At 600 million years ago, when the Ediacaran geologic period began on Earth and multi-celled life was evolving into larger organisms that became part of the fossilized record, the 2 Antennae galaxies passed through each other. Another example of this phenomenon can be found in NGC 4676, the Mice Galaxies. Then 300 million years ago while the late Palaeozoic ice age was underway on Earth, the stars of the Antennae began to be released from both galaxies. Today the two streamers of ejected stars extend far beyond the original galaxies, resulting in the antennae shape.
Within 400 million years from now, the Antennae's nuclei will collide and merge, and become a single core with stars, gas, and dust surrounding it. Observations and simulations of colliding galaxies suggest that the Antennae Galaxies will eventually form a large elliptical galaxy.
The tails of ejected stars are faint, and thus a challenge to capture in astrophotographic images; ...precisely what makes the Antennae such an interesting and popular target among amateur astro-imagers.
The Antennae galaxies are undergoing a galactic collision. They are known as the "Antennae" because of the two long tails of stars, gas and dust ejected from the galaxies as a result of the collision, which resemble an insect's antennae.
Each of the 2 galaxies are appx the same size as our Milky Way. Their nuclei are in the process of joining to become one giant galaxy. Most galaxies probably undergo at least one significant collision in their lifetimes. This is likely the future of our own Milky Way when it eventually collides with the Andromeda Galaxy; an event not anticipated for many millions of years from now. This understanding of galaxies' collisions and merger sequences was developed largely by modelling the 2 galaxies in the Antennae.
A recent study finds that these interacting galaxies are located appx 45 M light-years away from Earth.
About 1.2 billion years ago, when Earth was in its Mesoproterozoic Era and the majority of life was still aquatic, the Antennae were two separate galaxies. NGC 4038 was a barred spiral galaxy and NGC 4039 was a spiral galaxy. Then 900 million years ago simple multi-celled organisms were starting to appear on Earth, and because of their mutual gravitational attraction the 2 galaxies began to approach one another. At 600 million years ago, when the Ediacaran geologic period began on Earth and multi-celled life was evolving into larger organisms that became part of the fossilized record, the 2 Antennae galaxies passed through each other. Another example of this phenomenon can be found in NGC 4676, the Mice Galaxies. Then 300 million years ago while the late Palaeozoic ice age was underway on Earth, the stars of the Antennae began to be released from both galaxies. Today the two streamers of ejected stars extend far beyond the original galaxies, resulting in the antennae shape.
Within 400 million years from now, the Antennae's nuclei will collide and merge, and become a single core with stars, gas, and dust surrounding it. Observations and simulations of colliding galaxies suggest that the Antennae Galaxies will eventually form a large elliptical galaxy.
The tails of ejected stars are faint, and thus a challenge to capture in astrophotographic images; ...precisely what makes the Antennae such an interesting and popular target among amateur astro-imagers.