Galaxy NGC 7714 After Collision
From NASA’s Astronomy
Picture of the Day
Is this galaxy jumping through a giant ring of
stars? Probably not.
Although the precise dynamics behind the
featured image is yet unclear, what is clear is that the pictured galaxy, NGC 7714, has been
stretched and distorted by a recent collision with a neighboring galaxy.
This smaller neighbor, NGC 7715,
situated off to the left of the featured frame, is thought to have charged
right through NGC
7714.
Observations indicate that the golden ring
pictured is composed of millions of older Sun-like stars that are
likely co-moving with the interior bluer stars.
In contrast, the bright center of NGC 7714 appears to be
undergoing a burst of new star formation.
NGC 7714 is located about 100 million light
years away toward the constellation of the Fish (Pisces).
The interactions between
these galaxies likely started about 150 million years ago and
should continue for several hundred million years more,
after which a single
central galaxy may result.
