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Astrophotography from Australia
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Yass, New South Wales ~
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The Antennae (NGC 4038-4039)
The merging galaxies NGC 4038 and 4039 (45 million light years distanct), popularly referred to as the "Antennae" are the prototypical model of merging galactic systems. The interaction between the two galaxies began between 300 and 450 million years ago and will likely end in the full merger of the two in some 300 million years. The "Antennae" have been investigated in detail at almost every wavelength. The effects of the merger can be observed on two separate fronts. The disturbed inner region comprising the central mass of the two colliding galaxies contain many young clusters of giant O and B type stars and even superclusters of massive stars arising from recently formed giant molecular clouds. The formation of superclusters of stars are a phenomenon clearly associated with galactic mergers. The sweeping tidal tails of the two galaxies contain gas and stars, mutually stripped from both galaxies that extend out almost 500,000 light years from their respective centers. Detailed studies of the tidal tails reveal many older stars present before the encounter but also new star clusters triggered as a direct result of the massive collision. There appears to be a very large gravitationally bound mass of new stars near the end of the southern tail. This stellar mass is so large it may qualify as an independent "Tidal Dwarf Galaxy", a new dwarf galaxy created through the tidal effects of the collision. This remains to be confirmed.
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Equipment Telescope:
12.5" Ritchey Chretien by RC Optical Systems |
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