Astronomy Picture of the Day

    Discover the cosmos! Each day a different image or photograph of our
      fascinating universe is featured, along with a brief explanation
                    written by a professional astronomer.

                               2019 October 9

                 NGC 7714: Starburst after Galaxy Collision
               Image Credit: NASA, ESA, Hubble Legacy Archive;
                      Processing & Copyright: Rudy Pohl

   Explanation: 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. The
   featured image was captured by the Hubble Space Telescope. NGC 7714 is
   located about 130 million light years away toward the constellation of
   the Two 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.

                     Tomorrow's picture: the window seat
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       Authors & editors: Robert Nemiroff (MTU) & Jerry Bonnell (UMCP)
            NASA Official: Phillip Newman Specific rights apply.
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