La dernière étreinte de VIMOS
Deux galaxies spirales sont enfermées dans une danse envoûtante et tourbillonnante dans cette image prise par l'instrument VIMOS sur le Very Large Telescope (VLT) d'ESO. Les deux galaxies en interaction - NGC 5426 et NGC 5427 - forment un objet astronomique intrigant nommé Arp 271: c’est l'image finale capturée par VIMOS avant sa désaffectation le 24 mars 2018.
VIMOS - le spectrographe multi-objets dans le visible (en anglais “VIsible Multi-Object Spectrograph”) - a été actif sur le VLT pendant 16 ans. Pendant ce temps, il a aidé les scientifiques à comprendre les débuts sauvages des plus grosses galaxies, à observer les interactions impressionnantes de trois galaxies et à explorer des questions cosmiques profondes telles que la façon dont les galaxies les plus massives de l’univers ont grandi. Au lieu de se concentrer sur des objets uniques, VIMOS a été capable d'obtenir des informations détaillées sur des centaines de galaxies à la fois. Cet instrument sensible a recueilli les spectres de dizaines de milliers de galaxies à travers l’univers, montrant comment elles se sont formées, grandi et évolué.
Arp 271 est encadrée sur un fond de galaxies lointaines dans cette image. Des traînées de gaz bleuté, de poussière et de jeunes étoiles comblent le fossé entre les deux galaxies - un résultat de leur interaction gravitationnelle. Comme beaucoup d'observations astronomiques, cette image remonte dans le temps. Grâce au vaste espace séparant la Terre et Arp 271, cette image montre à quoi ressemblaient les galaxies il y a plus de 110 millions d'années: le temps que leur lumière a pris pour nous atteindre. Ce type de collision et de fusion est également considéré comme le destin final de la Voie lactée, car les scientifiques pensent qu'elle subira une interaction similaire avec notre galaxie voisine, Andromeda.
Crédit:
ESO/Juan Carlos Muñoz
À propos de l'image
| Identification: | potw1821a |
| Langage: | fr |
| Type: | Observation |
| Date de publication: | 21 mai 2018 06:00 |
| Taille: | 2335 x 1867 px |
À propos de l'objet
| Nom: | Arp 271, NGC 5426, NGC 5427 |
| Type: | Local Universe : Galaxy : Type : Interacting |
| Distance: | 130 million années lumière |
| Constellation: | Virgo |
Fonds d'écran
Coordinates
| Position (RA): | 14 3 25.60 |
| Position (Dec): | -6° 3' 1.57" |
| Field of view: | 7.97 x 6.37 arcminutes |
| Orientation: | North is 90.0° left of vertical |
Couleurs & filtres
| Domaine | Longueur d'onde | Télescope |
|---|---|---|
| Visible B | 447 nm | Very Large Telescope VIMOS |
| Visible V | 640 nm | Very Large Telescope VIMOS |
| Visible R | 750 nm | Very Large Telescope VIMOS |
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