Hubble image of NGC 7252
The stunning Atoms for Peace galaxy was given its nickname due to its superficial resemblance to an atomic nucleus, surrounded by the loops of orbiting electrons. “Atoms for Peace” was the title of a speech given by President Eisenhower in 1953, in an attempt to rebrand nuclear power as a tool for working toward global peace. Somewhat ironically this galaxy has had anything but a peaceful past — it was formed in a catastrophic merger between two smaller galaxies nearly 1 Gyr ago.
Credit:NASA & ESA, Acknowledgement: Judy Schmidt (Geckzilla)
About the Image
| Id: | potw1806a |
| Type: | Observation |
| Release date: | 5 February 2018, 06:00 |
| Size: | 2461 x 1614 px |
About the Object
| Name: | NGC 7252 |
| Type: | Local Universe : Galaxy : Type : Interacting |
| Distance: | 220 million light years |
| Constellation: | Aquarius |
| Category: | Galaxies |
Wallpapers
Coordinates
| Position (RA): | 22 20 44.69 |
| Position (Dec): | -24° 40' 42.33" |
| Field of view: | 1.63 x 1.07 arcminutes |
| Orientation: | North is 0.1° left of vertical |
View in WorldWide Telescope:
Colours & filters
| Band | Wavelength | Telescope |
|---|---|---|
| Optical u | 336 nm | Hubble Space Telescope WFC3 |
| Optical g | 475 nm | Hubble Space Telescope WFC3 |
| Infrared J | 1.1 μm | Hubble Space Telescope WFC3 |