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The '''Antennae Galaxies''' are a pair of ] (NGC 4038 + NGC 4039) undergoing a violent collision some 68 million ] away in the ] ]. They are placed in the ] and in the ]. The galaxies are known as the "Antennae Galaxies" because the two long tails of stars, gas, and dust thrown out of the galaxies as a result of the collision resemble the ] of an ]. The ] of the two galaxies are joining to become one supergalaxy. Most galaxies probably undergo at least one significant collision in their lifetimes. This is likely the future of our ] when it collides with ]. | The '''Antennae Galaxies''' are a pair of ] (NGC 4038 + NGC 4039) undergoing a violent collision some 68 million ] away in the ] ]. They are placed in the ] and in the ]. The galaxies are known as the "Antennae Galaxies" because the two long tails of stars, gas, and dust thrown out of the galaxies as a result of the collision resemble the ] of an ]. The ] of the two galaxies are joining to become one supergalaxy. Most galaxies probably undergo at least one significant collision in their lifetimes. This is likely the future of our ] when it collides with ]. | ||
===NGC 4038=== | ===NGC 4038=== |
Revision as of 20:57, 26 January 2006
The Antennae Galaxies are a pair of galaxies (NGC 4038 + NGC 4039) undergoing a violent collision some 68 million ly. away in the constellation Corvus. They are placed in the Creater cloud and in the NGC 4038 group. The galaxies are known as the "Antennae Galaxies" because the two long tails of stars, gas, and dust thrown out of the galaxies as a result of the collision resemble the antennae of an insect. The nuclei of the two galaxies are joining to become one supergalaxy. Most galaxies probably undergo at least one significant collision in their lifetimes. This is likely the future of our Milky Way when it collides with Andromeda.
NGC 4038
NGC 4038 lookes like it's the largest of the Antennae galaxies. Study has shown that today, and before it collided with NGC 4039, it's a spiral galaxy of the type SAc.
NGC 4039
NGC 4039 looks like the smallest of the Antennae galaxies. Study has shown that today, and before it collided with NGC 4038, it's a barred spiral galaxy of the type SBm.
Time line
- 1.2 billion years ago: The Antennae Galaxies were two separate spiral galaxies.
- 900 million years ago: The two galaxies began to smash into each other.
- 600 million years ago: The galaxies became distorted as they extended around each other.
- 300 million years ago: The galaxies stars began starting to be flung out of both galaxies.
- Today: Two streamers of ejected stars extend far beyond the original galaxies.
External links
- Astronomy Picture of the Day, October 22, 1997: The Antennae Galaxies
- Galactic prang fingered in star formation mystery (The Register)
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