Antennae Galaxies Post on Josh Universe
Summary
The Josh Universe - Space Discord Server announced a new Instagram post from joshtospace featuring the Antennae Galaxies (NGC 4038 and NGC 4039). Located 60 million light-years away, these interacting galaxies are closely studied because their gravitational encounter, which began about a billion years ago, triggers intense bursts of new star formation when their interstellar gas clouds collide. The announcement encourages community members to view the linked image and read more about this cosmic...
Hey, joshtospace just posted a new post! Go check it out!
https://www.instagram.com/p/DU8n58rEcnr/
Shown here are the galaxies NGC 4038 and NGC 4039, together known as the Antennae Galaxies. Located about 60 million light-years from Earth—a relatively short distance in cosmic terms—this pair is among the most closely studied examples of interacting galaxies visible in the night sky.
Roughly a billion years ago, their powerful gravitational pull drew them into an unusually close encounter. While individual stars within the galaxies seldom collide, vast clouds of interstellar gas do crash into one another, triggering intense bursts of new star formation.
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