Watch: Antennae Galaxies engaged in a cosmic duel
What's the story
Astrophotographer Greg Meyer has captured a stunning image of the Antennae Galaxies, located in the constellation Corvus. The photograph shows the chaotic merger of two spiral galaxies, NGC 4038 and NGC 4039, into a single elliptical galaxy. This cosmic event has been going on for hundreds of millions of years and is still ongoing.
Cosmic characteristics
Antennae Galaxies spawn super star clusters
The merging galaxies are characterized by long, sweeping "tidal tails" that extend light-years on either side. These structures resemble the antennae of insects, which is how the Antennae Galaxies got their name. The merger has also triggered a massive star formation event, resulting in the creation of "super star clusters" in the long arms of these galaxies.
Stellar evolution
Massive outburst of star formation
The ongoing merger has led to a massive outburst of star formation, creating "super star clusters" in the long arms of the galaxies. NASA estimates that 90% of these giant clusters will disperse as the galaxies merge and settle down. However, some may survive this cosmic dance and become globular clusters.
Image creation
How was the image captured?
Meyer spent nearly 21 hours observing the distant galaxies at Starfront Observatory in Rockwood, Texas. He used a variety of astronomy filters to capture light from the galaxies. The data was then processed and edited using Adobe Photoshop, Lightroom, and PixInsight software for astrophotography. This painstaking effort resulted in the stunning image we see today.