The Gemini North telescope, one half of the International Gemini Observatory, operated by NSFs NOIRLab, caught this dazzling picture of the so-called Taffy Galaxies– UGC 12914 and UGC 12915. Their twisted look is the result of a head-on accident that took place about 25 million years prior to their appearance in this image. A bridge of extremely unstable gas lacking significant star formation covers the gap between the 2 galaxies.Credit: International Gemini Observatory/NOIRLab/NSF/ AURA, Image Processing: M. Rodriguez (NSFs NOIRLab), T.A. Rector (University of Alaska Anchorage/NSFs NOIRLab), J. Miller (Gemini Observatory/NSFs NOIRLab), M. Zamani (NSFs NOIRLab) & & D. de Martin (NSFs NOIRLab), Acknowledgment: PI: A. S. Castelli (Universidad Nacional de la Plata).
Gemini North catches stretching after-effects of head-on accident in between a set of galaxies.
The Gemini North telescope, one half of the International Gemini Observatory, operated by NSFs NOIRLab, captured this stunning image of UGC 12914 and UGC 12915, which are nicknamed the Taffy Galaxies. Their twisted shape is the outcome of a head-on crash that took place about 25 million years prior to their appearance in this image. A bridge of highly turbulent gas lacking significant star development spans the gap in between the 2 galaxies.
Galaxy collisions are transformative occasions, largely accountable for driving the development of the Universe. A head-on crash between the 2 galaxies UGC 12914 (left) and UGC 12915 (right) 25– 30 million years ago appears to have resulted in a various kind of structure– a bridge of extremely rough product covering the 2 galaxies.
This pair of galaxies, nicknamed the Taffy Galaxies, is situated about 180 million light-years away in the instructions of the constellation Pegasus.
The Gemini North telescope, one half of the International Gemini Observatory, operated by NSFs NOIRLab, captured this dazzling image of the so-called Taffy Galaxies– UGC 12914 and UGC 12915. A bridge of highly unstable gas devoid of substantial star formation covers the gap in between the two galaxies.Credit: International Gemini Observatory/NOIRLab/NSF/ AURA, Image Processing: M. Rodriguez (NSFs NOIRLab), T.A. Rector (University of Alaska Anchorage/NSFs NOIRLab), J. Miller (Gemini Observatory/NSFs NOIRLab), M. Zamani (NSFs NOIRLab) & & D. de Martin (NSFs NOIRLab), Acknowledgment: PI: A. S. Castelli (Universidad Nacional de la Plata).
The Gemini North telescope, one half of the International Gemini Observatory, run by NSFs NOIRLab, recorded this spectacular image of UGC 12914 and UGC 12915, which are nicknamed the Taffy Galaxies. This new image, recorded with Gemini North, one half of the International Gemini Observatory, run by NSFs NOIRLab, showcases the fascinating function that gave them their name. Galaxy crashes can occur out of a variety of different situations, often involving a bigger galaxy and a smaller satellite galaxy.
This brand-new image, captured with Gemini North, one half of the International Gemini Observatory, operated by NSFs NOIRLab, showcases the remarkable function that offered them their name. A rare bridge made up of narrow molecular filaments, shown in brown, and clumps of hydrogen gas, shown in red, can be seen between the two galaxies. Its complex web structure looks like taffy being extended as the set slowly separates.
Galaxy crashes can occur out of a range of various circumstances, frequently including a larger galaxy and a smaller sized satellite galaxy. As they wander near one another, the satellite galaxy can bring in one of the bigger galaxys main spiral arms, pulling it out of its orbit. Or the satellite galaxy can in fact intersect with the bigger galaxy, triggering considerable distortions to its own structure. In other cases, a crash can result in a merger if neither member has enough momentum to continue on after clashing. In all these situations, stellar product from both galaxies mixes through a progressive combining and redistribution of gas, like 2 puddles of liquid that are slowly bleeding into each other. The resulting gathering and compression of the gas can then activate star formation.
Zoom-in to UGC 12914 and UGC 12915, which are nicknamed the Taffy Galaxies. Their twisted shape is the result of a head-on crash that occurred about 25 million years prior to their look in this image. A bridge of extremely turbulent gas lacking significant star formation covers the space between the two galaxies.
A head-on crash, nevertheless, would be more like pouring liquid from two separate cups into a shared bowl. When the Taffy Galaxies collided, their stellar disks and gaseous parts smashed right into each other. This resulted in an enormous injection of energy into the gas, triggering it to become extremely rough. As the set emerged from their accident, high-velocity gas was pulled from each galaxy, creating a massive gas bridge in between them. The turbulence of the excellent material throughout the bridge is now forbiding the collection and compression of gas that are required to form new stars.
The Gemini North observations of this object were led by Analía Smith Castelli, an astronomer with the Instituto de Astrofísica de La Plata in Argentina. Argentina is among the partners in the International Gemini Observatory.
