The merging galaxy system Arp 220 from ALMA and Hubble

The compound view shows a new ALMA Band 5 image of the colliding galaxy system Arp 220 (in red) on top of an image from the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope (blue/green). With the newly installed Band 5 receivers, ALMA has now opened its eyes to a whole new section of this radio spectrum, creating exciting new observational possibilities and improving the telescope’s ability to search for water in the Universe.

In the Hubble image, most of the light from this dramatic merging galaxy pair is hidden behind dark clouds of dust. ALMA's observations in Band 5 show a completely different view. Here, Arp 220's famous double nucleus, invisible for Hubble, is by far the brightest feature in the whole galaxy complex. In this dense, double centre, the bright emission from water and other molecules revealed by the new Band 5 receivers will give astronomers new insights into star formation and other processes in this extreme environment.

This image is one of the first taken using Band 5 and was intended to verify the scientific capability of the new receivers. The ALMA image includes data recording emission from water, CS and HCN in the galaxies.

Credit:

ALMA(ESO/NAOJ/NRAO)/NASA/ESA and The Hubble Heritage Team (STScI/AURA)

About the Image

Id:eso1645a
Type:Observation
Release date:21 December 2016, 12:00
Related releases:eso1645
Size:955 x 692 px

About the Object

Name:Arp 220
Type:Local Universe : Galaxy : Type : Interacting
Constellation:Serpens Caput
Category:Galaxies

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Coordinates

Position (RA):15 34 57.37
Position (Dec):23° 30' 10.70"
Field of view:0.40 x 0.29 arcminutes
Orientation:North is 67.7° left of vertical

Colours & filters

BandWavelengthTelescope
Optical
B
435 nmHubble Space Telescope
ACS
Optical
V
555 nmHubble Space Telescope
ACS
Optical
I
814 nmHubble Space Telescope
ACS
Millimeter2.6 mmAtacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array
Band 5