‘Taffy Galaxies’ Collide, Leave Behind Bridge of Star-Forming Material

The Gemini North telescope, one half of the International Gemini Observatory, operated by NSF’s NOIRLab, captured this dazzling image of the so-called Taffy Galaxies — UGC 12914 and UGC 12915. Their twisted appearance is the result of a head-on collision that occurred about 25 million years prior to their appearance in this image. A bridge of highly turbulent gas devoid of significant star formation spans the gap between the two galaxies.

Credit:

International Gemini Observatory/NOIRLab/NSF/AURA

Image Processing: M. Rodriguez (NSF’s NOIRLab), T.A. Rector (University of Alaska Anchorage/NSF’s NOIRLab), J. Miller (Gemini Observatory/NSF’s NOIRLab), M. Zamani (NSF’s NOIRLab)  & D. de Martin (NSF’s NOIRLab) 
Acknowledgment: PI: A. S. Castelli  (Universidad Nacional de la Plata)

About the Image

Id:noirlab2308a
Type:Observation
Release date:March 29, 2023, 1 p.m.
Related releases:noirlab2308
Size:1706 x 1570 px

About the Object

Name:UGC 12914, UGC 12915
Distance:150 million light years
Constellation:Pegasus
Category:Galaxies

Image Formats

Large JPEGLarge JPEG
659.7 KB
Screensize JPEGScreensize JPEG
225.4 KB

Wallpapers

1024x7681024x768
203.4 KB
1280x10241280x1024
338.2 KB
1600x12001600x1200
514.6 KB
1920x12001920x1200
547.9 KB
2048x15362048x1536
3.4 MB

Coordinates

ObjectValue
Position (RA):0 1 39.56
Position (Dec):23° 29' 7.86"
Field of view:4.60 x 4.23 arcminutes
Orientation:North is 90.0° right of vertical


Colors & filters

BandWave-lengthTele-scope
Optical
g
475 nmGemini North
GMOS-N
Optical
r
630 nmGemini North
GMOS-N
Optical
i
780 nmGemini North
GMOS-N
Optical
H-alpha
656 nmGemini North
GMOS-N