[▲ Interacting galaxies “NGC 4567” (left) and “NGC 4568” (right) (Credit: International Gemini Observatory/NOIRLab/NSF/AURA; Image processing: TA Rector (University of Alaska Anchorage/NSF’s NOIRLab), J. Miller (Gemini Observatory/NSF’s NOIRLab), M. Zamani (NSF’s NOIRLab) & D. de Martin (NSF’s NOIRLab))]
Here are two spiral galaxies about 60 million light years away in the direction of Virgo「NGC 4567」When「NGC 4568」is. NGC 4567 is on the left side of the image, and NGC 4568 is on the right side.The arrangement of both galaxies is“V”Because it looks like drawing a butterfly, it is compared to a butterfly overseas“Butterfly Galaxies”Also called
NGC 4567 and NGC 4568 areEarly stage of gravitational interactionIt seems that we are observing the beginning of the collision between the two galaxies.A galaxy in which multiple galaxies influence each other through gravity“Interacting Galaxy”It is called , and some of them have been observed to be greatly distorted from their original appearance.
According to the National Science Foundation’s (NSF) National Institute for Optical and Infrared Astronomy (NOIRLab), which released the images, the observed centers of both galaxies are about 20,000 light years apart (the distance from the solar system to the center of the Milky Way galaxy). about the same), and both still retain their spiral galaxy morphology. However, as the two galaxies approach each other and merge, the appearance of the two galaxies, which repeatedly approach and pass each other, is greatly distorted.Long Streams of Stars and Gasis said to be stretched.
In addition, we used gas and dust existing in each galaxy as materialsstarburst(explosive star formation activity) is also expected to be triggered. Gas and dust are expected to be used up by star formation or blown away.
[▲ A video comparing a simulation of a galaxy merger and an actually observed interacting galaxy]
（Credit: NASA, ESA, and F. Summers (STScI)）
Finally, NGC 4567 and NGC 4568 areFusion in about 500 million yearsand oneelliptical galaxyis thought to be born.Its appearance is an elliptical galaxy belonging to the same “Virgo Cluster” as both galaxies.「M89（Messier 89）」may resemble M89 lacks the gas necessary for star formation, and is said to consist mainly of old low-mass stars and old globular clusters.
By the way, we live inmilky way galaxyis a spiral galaxy about 2.5 million light years away“Andromeda Galaxy (M31)”continues to approach withCollision about 5 billion years from nowIt is considered. The Milky Way and Andromeda galaxies also merged through the stage of interacting galaxies,“Milkomeda*”It is thought that one galaxy called will be born.
*…Mixed word of Milky Way and Andromeda
The top image is of the Gemini Observatory on Mauna Kea in Hawaii.“Gemini North Telescope”(Aperture: 8.1m), taken in 2020 and published by NOIRLab on August 9, 2022.
In addition, NGC 4568 will be a supernova in March 2020.「SN 2020fqv」has been detected, and its afterglow is also visible in this image (see the last image with a magnified view). SN 2020fqv is an exoplanet probe satellite of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)「TESS」succeeded in capturing the change in brightness before and after the explosion.“Hubble”Observations were also made with space telescopes.
[▲ Interacting galaxies “NGC 4567” (left) and “NGC 4568” (right), close-up of supernova “SN 2020fqv” (lower right) (Credit: International Gemini Observatory/NOIRLab/NSF/AURA; Image processing: TA Rector (University of Alaska Anchorage/NSF’s NOIRLab), J. Miller (Gemini Observatory/NSF’s NOIRLab), M. Zamani (NSF’s NOIRLab) & D. de Martin (NSF’s NOIRLab))]
Source
- Image Credit: International Gemini Observatory/NOIRLab/NSF/AURA; Image processing: T.A. Rector (University of Alaska Anchorage/NSF’s NOIRLab), J. Miller (Gemini Observatory/NSF’s NOIRLab), M. Zamani (NSF’s NOIRLab) & D. de Martin (NSF’s NOIRLab)
- NOIRLab – NSF’s NOIRLab unveils stunning image of merging spiral galaxies
Text/Matsumura Takehiro