Hubble Space Telescope visible light image "blue blobs"
A Hubble Space Telescope visible light image of bright blue star clusters found along a wispy bridge of gas that was tidally stretched between the two galaxies, and a third companion galaxy not seen in this picture. This is not the place astronomers expect to find star clusters because the density of gas is so low. Turbulence in the gas may have enhanced the density locally to trigger starbirth. The so-called "blue blobs" are clumped together in a structure called Arp's Loop. Hubble reveals the clusters contain the equivalent of five Orion Nebulae. Analysis of the stellar population in the clusters yields an age of approximately 200 million years, which coincides with the epoch of the collision.
Credit:NASA, ESA, and D. de Mello (Catholic University of America/GSFC)
About the Image
Id: | heic0801c |
Type: | Observation |
Release date: | 8 January 2008, 20:00 |
Related releases: | heic0801 |
Size: | 2586 x 1935 px |
About the Object
Name: | Holmberg IX, M81, M82 |
Type: | Local Universe : Star : Grouping : Cluster |
Distance: | 12 million light years |
Constellation: | Ursa Major |
Category: | Star Clusters |
Coordinates
Position (RA): | 9 57 30.08 |
Position (Dec): | 69° 16' 43.65" |
Field of view: | 2.16 x 1.61 arcminutes |
Orientation: | North is 31.3° left of vertical |
Colours & filters
Band | Wavelength | Telescope |
---|---|---|
Optical B | 435 nm |
Hubble Space Telescope
ACS |
Optical Pseudogreen (B+I) |
Hubble Space Telescope
ACS | |
Infrared I | 814 nm |
Hubble Space Telescope
ACS |