The Gemini North Telescope in Hawaii has managed to photograph spectacular events in the Universe. Photo of a dancing pair of galaxies about to merge.
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Image of spiral galaxy pair NGC 4567 (top) and NGC 4568 (bottom) that are in the process of merging. Credit: Gemini International Observatory/NOIRLab/NSF/AURA. Images: TA Rector (University of Alaska Anchorage/NSF’s NOIRLab), J. Miller (Gemini Observatory/NSF’s NOIRLab), M. Zamani (NSF’s NOIRLab) and D. de Martin (NSF’s NOIRLab)
” data-medium-file=”https://i0.wp.com/langitselatan.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/merger-galaksi.jpg?fit=300%2C166&ssl=1″ data-large- file=”https://i0.wp.com/langitselatan.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/merger-galaksi.jpg?fit=1000%2C554&ssl=1″ decoding=”async” width=”1000 ” height=”554″ alt=”Citra pasangan galaksi spiral NGC 4567 (atas) and NGC 4568 (bawah) yang sedang dalam proses merger. Credits: Gemini International Observatory/NOIRLab/NSF/AURA. Olah Citra: Rector TA (University of Alaska Anchorage/NSF NOIRLab), J. Miller (Gemini Observatory/NSF NOIRLab), M. Zamani (NSF NOIRLab), and D. de Martin (NSF NOIRLab) ” class=”wp-image- 35677″ srcset=”https://i0.wp.com/langitselatan.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/merger-galaksi.jpg?w=1000&ssl=1 1000w, https://i0.wp. com/langitselatan.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/merger-galaksi.jpg?resize=300%2C166&ssl=1 300w, https://i0.wp.com/langitselatan.com/wp-content/uploads /2022/11/merger-galaksi.jpg?resize=768%2C425&ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/langitselatan.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/merger-galaksi.jpg? resize=90%2C50&ssl=1 90w, https://i0.wp.com/langitselatan.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/merger-galaksi.jpg?resize=870%2C482&ssl=1 870w” size= “(max width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px” data-recalc-dims=”1″/>
Galactic mergers. This is a fairly common occurrence when two galaxies meet and collide. The collision did not destroy the galaxy but merged the two galaxies into a new galaxy.
This time, astronomers managed to photograph two merging spiral galaxies in the constellation Virgo. This event has been observed to occur at a distance of 60 million light years and involves two galaxies NGC 4567 and NGC 4568 which will merge into a single galaxy in 500 million years.
Currently the distance between the centers of the two galaxies is 20,000 light years. Equivalent to the distance of the Earth from the center of the Milky Way. At this distance the two galaxies can still maintain their spiral shape. However, when NGC 4567 and NGC 4568 approached, they collided severity between the two galaxies actually trigger the formation of new stars that distort the shape of the two galaxies.
Over millions of years into the future, the two galaxies will swing past each other repeatedly, like a pair of dancers performing a pax-de-deux technique. With each swing, NGC 4567 and NGC 4568 will get closer and closer. As a result, there will be gas flows and star formation until the two galaxies merge to form a new spiral galaxy. In the future, the forming galaxies could be similar to Messier 89, their neighbor in the Virgo cluster.
When the two galaxies merged, some of the gas and dust that formed the stars had been consumed or blown away.
The beautiful dance of the two galaxies is an image of the future when the Milky Way collides and merges with our neighbor, the Andromeda galaxy. In about 5 billion years.
Interesting facts:
Messier 89, a galaxy older than NGC 4567 and NGC 4568. This galaxy is inhabited by old low-mass stars and ancient globular clusters. There is not much star formation in Messier 89. Astronomers observed this galaxy while studying NGC 4567 and NGC 4568.
Source: This article is a republished version developed by Indonesian edition of Space Scoop Universe Awareness. Space Scoop Indonesian Edition Translated by Paradise.
