NGC 4038 and 4039 "Ringtail Galaxy"
About
this Object
The
Ring tail Galaxy is located
at an estimated distance of 60 million light years. The
larger galaxy NGC 4038 (top) is colliding with the smaller NGC 4039.
The
collision is producing an outbreak of star formation which is evident
by
the bright knots of stars visible with the core of each galaxy. The two
galaxies are spiral in structure but have been deformed by their mutual
interaction. Many millions of stars are being thrown from their
positions in the galactic disks into intergalactic space as evident
from the "tails" extending from each.
Image
Details
