The AntennaeThis unusual object is actually a pair of spiral galaxies distorting each other via their mutual gravitational tides. The insect-like antennae are made of material flung out from each galaxy during closest encounter. Som of the gas has been compressed bby the collision, resulting in the formation of many young massive stars. They give the galaxies their blue colorThe pair is 63 million light-years from Earth. The distance between the tips of the antennae is about 350,000 light-years. All the stars in this image are actually foreground stars in our Galaxy. They appear so bright relative to the galaxies only because they are much closer. |
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