Antennae Galaxies
NGC 4038
Barred Spiral
Propriedades
Posição e Identificadores
Visibilidade
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Sobre Antennae Galaxies
Descrição
The Antennae Galaxies (NGC 4038) are a spectacular pair of colliding galaxies in Corvus, about 45 million light-years away. NGC 4038 is the northern component, and together with NGC 4039 (C61), they form one of the most famous interacting galaxy pairs, with long tidal tails stretching out like insect antennae.
Dicas de Observação
Visible as a peculiar, irregularly shaped glow in a 6-inch telescope. An 8-inch scope shows the double nucleus region. The tidal tails require long-exposure photography. Best in spring evenings when Corvus is well placed.
História
Discovered by William Herschel on February 7, 1785. The Antennae are one of the youngest and nearest examples of a galaxy merger in progress, making them a prime laboratory for studying galaxy interactions.
Curiosidades
The collision has triggered an enormous burst of star formation. Hubble images show over 1,000 bright young star clusters formed in the interaction, some containing millions of stars. This is a preview of what will happen when the Milky Way and Andromeda collide.
Fotos da Comunidade (1)
Credit: ESA/Hubble & NASA. License: CC BY 4.0. (Wikimedia Commons)
Skybred Mar 2, 2026