Stunning image of Arp 87, a pair of interacting galaxies locked in a gravitational dance. A bridge of stars, gas, and dust, spanning over 75,000 light-years, connects the two galaxies, showcasing the violent effects of their close encounter. The right galaxy, NGC 3808A, displays vibrant blue star clusters, evidence of recent star formation triggered by the interaction. The left galaxy, NGC 3808B, is an edge-on spiral wrapped in bridging material, with a unique polar ring. This image depicts a common, yet visually striking, stage in the eventual merger of these two galactic systems, located approximately 300 million light-years away in the constellation Leo. A more distant background galaxy is visible at the far left.

Astronomy Picture from 24/10/2023

Arp 87: Merging Galaxies from Hubble

Source: https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap231024.html


#Arp87 #GalaxyMerger #CosmicDance #GalacticCollision #Space #Astronomy #Astrophysics #NASA #Hubble #SpiralGalaxies

Stunning image of Arp 87, a pair of interacting galaxies connected by a luminous bridge of stars, gas, and dust spanning over 75,000 light-years. The gravitational interaction has triggered intense star formation in NGC 3808A, visible as bright blue clusters. NGC 3808B shows a polar ring structure. This captivating view showcases a stage in the eventual merger of these galaxies, located 300 million light-years away in Leo. A distant background galaxy is also visible.

Astronomy Picture from 01/11/2007

Peculiar Arp 87

Source: https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap071101.html


#Arp87 #GalaxyInteraction #GalacticMerger #CosmicBridge #SpiralGalaxies #Astrophysics #Space #Astronomy #NASA #Hubble #DeepSpace #Cosmology #StarFormation