Post by glactus on Jun 29, 2011 2:07:23 GMT
The Mice are an unusual pair of galaxies and are a long way from Earth at 290 million light years in the Constellation of Coma Berenices. Apparent magnitude is 14.7
The Mice
NGC 4676, or the Mice Galaxies are presently in the process of colliding and merging. Their name refers to the long tails produced by tidal action—the relative difference between gravitational pulls on the near and far parts of each galaxy—known here as a galactic tide. Members of the Coma cluster, it is a possibility that both galaxies have experienced collision, and will continue colliding until they coalesce.
The Coma cluster
The colors of the galaxy are peculiar. In the upper galaxy (NGC 4676A, to the right in the photo), a core with some dark markings is surrounded by a bluish white remnant of spiral arms. The tail is unusual, starting out blue and terminating in a more yellowish color, despite the fact that the beginning of each arm in virtually every spiral galaxy starts yellow and terminates in a bluish color. The lower galaxy (NGC 4676B, to the left) is closer to normal, with a yellowish core and two arcs; arm remnants underneath are bluish as well.
The Mice in Coma Berenices
The galaxies were photographed in 2002 by the Hubble Space Telescope.
looking at the Mice galaxies
Credits: These are NASA/Hubble/ESA images
Text by Wikipedia
Telescope in avatar: Meade 16" LX 200
Astronomer in avatar: Glactus
The Mice
NGC 4676, or the Mice Galaxies are presently in the process of colliding and merging. Their name refers to the long tails produced by tidal action—the relative difference between gravitational pulls on the near and far parts of each galaxy—known here as a galactic tide. Members of the Coma cluster, it is a possibility that both galaxies have experienced collision, and will continue colliding until they coalesce.
The Coma cluster
The colors of the galaxy are peculiar. In the upper galaxy (NGC 4676A, to the right in the photo), a core with some dark markings is surrounded by a bluish white remnant of spiral arms. The tail is unusual, starting out blue and terminating in a more yellowish color, despite the fact that the beginning of each arm in virtually every spiral galaxy starts yellow and terminates in a bluish color. The lower galaxy (NGC 4676B, to the left) is closer to normal, with a yellowish core and two arcs; arm remnants underneath are bluish as well.
The Mice in Coma Berenices
The galaxies were photographed in 2002 by the Hubble Space Telescope.
looking at the Mice galaxies
Credits: These are NASA/Hubble/ESA images
Text by Wikipedia
Telescope in avatar: Meade 16" LX 200
Astronomer in avatar: Glactus