Tadpole Galaxy
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The Tadpole Galaxy |
|
| Observation data: J2000 epoch | |
|---|---|
| Constellation: | Draco |
| Right ascension: | 16h 06m 03.9s[1] |
| Declination: | +55° 25′ 32″[1] |
| Redshift: | 9401 ± 15 km/s[1] |
| Distance: | 420 Mly |
| Type: | SB(s)c pec[1] |
| Apparent dimensions (V): | 3′.6 × 0′.8[1] |
| Apparent magnitude (V): | 14.4[1] |
| Notable features: | Collided galaxy |
| Other designations | |
| UGC 10214,[1] Arp 188,[1] PGC 57129[1] | |
| See also: Galaxy, List of galaxies | |
The Tadpole Galaxy is a disrupted barred spiral galaxy. In this stunning vista recorded with the Hubble Space Telescope's Advanced Camera for Surveys, distant galaxies form a dramatic backdrop. The cosmic tadpole is a mere 420 million light-years distant toward the northern constellation Draco. Its eye-catching tail is about 280 thousand light-years long, and features massive, bright blue star clusters.
One story goes that a more compact intruder galaxy crossed in front of Arp 188—from left to right in this view—and was slung around behind the Tadpole by their gravitational attraction. During the close encounter, tidal forces drew out the spiral galaxy's stars, gas, and dust, forming the spectacular tail. The intruder galaxy itself, estimated to lie about 300 thousand light-years behind the Tadpole, can be seen through foreground spiral arms at the upper left. Following its terrestrial namesake, the Tadpole Galaxy will likely lose its tail as it grows older, the tail's star clusters forming smaller satellites of the large spiral galaxy.
[edit] References
- NASA - This article contains text from NASA, which is in the public domain.
