The antennae galaxies - NGC4038/9

One of the first images from the new VIMOS facility, obtained right after the moment of "first light" on February 26, 2002. It shows the famous "Antennae Galaxies" (NGC 4038/9), the result of a recent collision between two galaxies.

As an immediate outcome of this dramatic event, stars are born within massive complexes that appear blue in this composite photo, based on exposures through green, orange and red optical filters.

Individual exposures of 60 seconds each; image quality 0.6 arcsec FWHM; the field measures 3.5 x 3.5 arcmin2. North is up and East is left.

Credit:

ESO

Over de afbeelding

Id:eso0209a
Type:Observatie
Publicatiedatum:13 maart 2002
Gerelateerde berichten:eso0209
Grootte:800 x 796 px

Over het object

Naam:Antennae Galaxies
Type:Local Universe : Galaxy : Type : Interacting
Afstand:75 miljoen lichtjaren
Constellation:Corvus
Categorie:Galaxies

Afbeeldingstypen

Grote JPEG
113,2 KB

Achtergrond

1024x768
165,2 KB
1280x1024
247,3 KB
1600x1200
336,3 KB
1920x1200
413,9 KB
2048x1536
514,1 KB

Coordinates

Position (RA):12 1 53.31
Position (Dec):-18° 52' 37.66"
Field of view:3.43 x 3.42 arcminutes
Orientation:North is 0.1° left of vertical

Kleuren & filters

BandTelescoop
Optisch
B
Very Large Telescope
VIMOS
Optisch
V
Very Large Telescope
VIMOS
Infrarood
I
Very Large Telescope
VIMOS