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The new image, which combines data from the NASA / ESA Hubble Space Telescope, the 4m Victor M. Blanco Telescope and the Sloan Digital Sky Survey, captures an ongoing cosmic collision between two spiral galaxies in the Arp 91 system.
This composite image shows the Arp 91 interacting galaxy system. The color image consists of observations from the Hubble Advanced Camera for Surveys (ACS), the Dark Energy Camera (DECam) from the Victor M. Blanco Telescope of 4 m and the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) in the optical part of the spectrum. Seven filters were used to sample different wavelengths. Color results from assigning different tints to each monochromatic image associated with an individual filter. Image credit: NASA / ESA / Hubble / J. Dalcanton / J. Schmidt.
Arp 91 is located approximately 113 million light years far away in the constellation Serpents.
Otherwise known as KPG 468, the system was discovered on April 17, 1784 by the German-born British astronomer William Herschel.
“The two galaxies comprising Arp 91 have their own names,” said the Hubble astronomers.
“The lower galaxy, which in this image looks like a bright spot, is known as NGC 5953; and the ovoid galaxy at the top right is NGC 5954. “
“These two galaxies are actually spiral galaxies, but their shapes look very different because they are oriented differently from Earth.”
The Arp 91 system is a particularly striking example of galactic interaction.
“NGC 5954 is clearly pulled towards NGC 5953 – it looks like it is extending an arm spiraling downwards,” the researchers explained.
“It is the immense gravitational pull of the two galaxies that makes them interact.”
“Such gravitational interactions between galaxies are common and form an important part of galactic evolution. “
“Most astronomers today believe that collisions between spiral galaxies lead to the formation of another type of galaxy, called elliptical galaxies,” they said.
“These immensely energetic and massive collisions, however, occur on time scales that eclipse human life – they unfold over hundreds of millions of years.”
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