The Tinker Bell triplet

Using ESO's Very Large Telescope, an international team of astronomers has discovered a stunning rare case of a triple merger of galaxies. This system, which astronomers have dubbed 'The Bird' - although it also bears resemblance with a cosmic Tinker Bell - is composed of two massive spiral galaxies and a third irregular galaxy.

In this image, a 30-min VLT/NACO K-band exposure has been combined with archive HST/ACS B and I-band images to produce a three-colour image of the 'Bird' interacting galaxy system. The NACO image has allowed astronomers to not only see the two previously known galaxies, but to identify a third, clearly separate component, an irregular, yet fairly massive galaxy that seems to form stars at a frantic rate.

Oikeudet:

ESO

Kuvasta

Tunnistus:eso0755a
Tyyppi:Havainto
Julkaisupäivä:21. joulukuuta 2007
Vastaavat julkaisut:eso0755
Koko:1246 x 1139 px

Kohteesta

Nimi:ESO 593-IG 008, The Bird
Tyyppi:Local Universe : Galaxy : Type : Interacting
Etäisyys:650 miljoona valovuotta
Constellation:Sagittarius
Kategoria:Galaxies

Kuvaformaatit

Suuri JPEG
395,9 KB
Kokoruudun JPEG
198,8 KB

Taustakuvat

1024x768
242,9 KB
1280x1024
390,9 KB
1600x1200
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1920x1200
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2048x1536
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Koordinaatit

Position (RA):19 14 31.08
Position (Dec):-21° 19' 9.36"
Field of view:0.60 x 0.55 arcminutes
Suuntaus:Pohjoinen on 0.2° vasen pystysuuntaan nähden

Värit ja suotimet

KaistaTeleskooppi
Infrapuna
K
Very Large Telescope
NACO
Optinen
B
Hubble Space Telescope
ACS
Infrapuna
I
Hubble Space Telescope
ACS