Galaxy NGC 2623 Merger
Not surprisingly, interacting galaxies have a dramatic effect on each other. Studies have revealed that as galaxies approach one another, massive amounts of gas are pulled from each galaxy toward the center of the other, until ultimately, the two merge into one combined system. NGC 2623 is in the late stages of the merging process, with the centers of the original galaxy pair now merged into one nucleus, but stretching out from the center are two tidal tails of young stars, a strong indicator that a merger has taken place. During such a collision, the dramatic exchange of mass and gases initiates star formation, seen here in both the tails.
Image Credit: NASA, ESA, and A. Evans (Stony Brook University, New York; University of Virginia; and National Radio Astronomy Observatory, Charlottesville)
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https://science.nasa.gov/image-detail/amf-7db306f8-e909-47ea-8a4b-e2938948be4b/
Image CreditNASA, ESA, and A. Evans (Stony Brook University, New York; University of Virginia; and National Radio Astronomy Observatory, Charlottesville)
Size3396x2347px
