Hubble image of Arp 116
Two very different galaxies feature in this image taken by the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope, forming a peculiar galaxy pair called Arp 116.
Arp 116 is composed of a giant elliptical galaxy known as Messier 60, and a much smaller spiral galaxy, NGC 4647.
Astronomers have long tried to determine whether these two galaxies are actually interacting. Although they overlap as seen from Earth, there is no evidence of new star formation, which would be one of the clearest signs that the two galaxies are indeed interacting. However, recent studies of very detailed Hubble images suggest the onset of some tidal interaction between the two.
Credit:
NASA, ESA
About the Image
| Id: | heic1213a |
| Type: | Observation |
| Release date: | 6 September 2012, 15:00 |
| Related releases: | heic1213 |
| Size: | 7373 x 6220 px |
About the Object
| Name: | Arp 116, M 60, Messier 60, NGC 4647, NGC 4649 |
| Type: | • Local Universe : Galaxy : Type : Spiral • Local Universe : Galaxy : Type : Elliptical • Local Universe : Galaxy : Grouping : Pair |
| Distance: | 50 million light years |
Colours & filters
| Band | Wavelength | Telescope |
| Optical V |
555 nm | Hubble Space Telescope ACS |
| Infrared I |
850 nm | Hubble Space Telescope ACS |
| Optical B |
475 nm | Hubble Space Telescope WFPC2 |
| Infrared I |
814 nm | Hubble Space Telescope WFPC2 |
| Optical B+V+I |
Hubble Space Telescope |
