NGC 5170
Galactic police would have a difficult time trying to determine which of these two galaxies caused the collision. At an estimated distance of 100 million light years away the light that we now receive took a significant time compared to how quickly the shape of this interaction is evolving. Most likely the tidal tails of this pair have grown dramatically and perhaps even more star formation is taking place in the heart of the mass. Note the dusty foreground dust lanes and the galaxies that are severely reddened (bottom left tail). Another similar example of colliding galaxies is NGC 4038.
This image was taken as part of Advanced Observing Program (AOP) program at Kitt Peak Visitor Center during 2014.
Credit:KPNO/NOIRLab/NSF/AURA/Jeff Newton/Adam Block
About the Image
| Id: | noao-n520newton |
| Type: | Observation |
| Release date: | Feb. 25, 2014, 12:03 p.m. |
| Size: | 1520 x 1028 px |
About the Object
Wallpapers
Coordinates
| Position (RA): | 1 24 45.85 |
| Position (Dec): | 3° 50' 41.50" |
| Field of view: | 12.25 x 8.27 arcminutes |
| Orientation: | North is 3.3° right of vertical |
Colors & filters
| Band | Wave-length | Tele-scope |
|---|---|---|
| Optical B | 438 nm | Visitor Center Roll off Roof Observatory Other CCD |
| Optical G | 475 nm | Visitor Center Roll off Roof Observatory Other CCD |
| Optical R | 625 nm | Visitor Center Roll off Roof Observatory Other CCD |
| Optical Broad Band | 555 nm | Visitor Center Roll off Roof Observatory Other CCD |