The antennae galaxies - NGC4038/9

One of the first images from the new VIMOS facility, obtained right after the moment of "first light" on February 26, 2002. It shows the famous "Antennae Galaxies" (NGC 4038/9), the result of a recent collision between two galaxies.

As an immediate outcome of this dramatic event, stars are born within massive complexes that appear blue in this composite photo, based on exposures through green, orange and red optical filters.

Individual exposures of 60 seconds each; image quality 0.6 arcsec FWHM; the field measures 3.5 x 3.5 arcmin2. North is up and East is left.

Credit:

ESO

About the Image

Id:eso0209a
Type:Observation
Release date:13 March 2002
Related releases:eso0209
Size:800 x 796 px

About the Object

Name:Antennae Galaxies
Type:Local Universe : Galaxy : Type : Interacting
Distance:75 million light years
Constellation:Corvus
Category:Galaxies

Image Formats

Large JPEG
113.2 KB
Screensize JPEG
128.9 KB

Wallpapers

1024x768
165.2 KB
1280x1024
247.3 KB
1600x1200
336.3 KB
1920x1200
413.9 KB
2048x1536
514.1 KB

Coordinates

Position (RA):12 1 53.31
Position (Dec):-18° 52' 37.66"
Field of view:3.43 x 3.42 arcminutes
Orientation:North is 0.1° left of vertical

Colours & filters

BandTelescope
Optical
B
Very Large Telescope
VIMOS
Optical
V
Very Large Telescope
VIMOS
Infrared
I
Very Large Telescope
VIMOS