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

Mounted Image

Kuvaformaatit

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

Taustakuvat

1024x768
242,9 KB
1280x1024
390,9 KB
1600x1200
525,9 KB
1920x1200
580,8 KB
2048x1536
773,1 KB

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