Suggested Searches

 

1 min read

Colliding Galaxies NGC 2207: Visible, Infrared, and X-ray Views

NGC 2207 is a pair of colliding spiral galaxies. Their bright central nuclei resemble a striking set of eyes. In visible light (Hubble), trails of stars and gas trace out spiral arms, stretched by the tidal pull between the galaxies. When seen in infrared light (IR; Spitzer), the glow of warm dust appears. This dust is the raw material for the creation of new stars and planets. Complementary to the IR, the X-ray (Chandra) view reveals areas of active star formation and the birth of super star clusters. Though individual stars are too far apart to collide, the material between the stars merges to create high-density pockets of gas. These regions gravitationally collapse to trigger a firestorm of starbirth. The galaxy collision will go on for several millions of years, leaving the galaxies completely altered in terms of their shapes.
  • Release Date
    April 23, 2018
  • Credit
    NASA, ESA, and G. Bacon (STScI); Optical image: NASA, ESA, and The Hubble Heritage Team (STScI) X-ray image: NASA/CXC/SAO/S. Mineo et al Infrared image: NASA/JPL-Caltech

Downloads

  • 24 sec, 3840 × 2160, 30 FPS
    mp4 (5.07 MB)
  • 24 sec, 1920 × 1080, 30 FPS
    mp4 (5.44 MB)
  • 24 sec, 1280 × 720, 30 FPS
    mp4 (2.56 MB)
  • 24 sec, 640 × 360, 30 FPS
    mp4 (851.37 KB)
  • 48 sec, 640 × 360, 30 FPS
    mp4 (1.46 MB)
  • 48 sec, 1280 × 720, 30 FPS
    mp4 (4.5 MB)
  • 48 sec, 1920 × 1080, 30 FPS
    mp4 (9.58 MB)
  • 48 sec, 3840 × 2160, 30 FPS
    mp4 (8.76 MB)

Share

Details

Last Updated
Mar 28, 2025
Contact
Media

Claire Andreoli
NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center
Greenbelt, Maryland
claire.andreoli@nasa.gov

Related Terms

Keep Exploring

Discover More Topics From NASA

Hubble Space Telescope

Since its 1990 launch, the Hubble Space Telescope has changed our fundamental understanding of the universe.

Hubble Science Highlights

Hubble Images

Hubble News