NGC 4038-39, the interacting galaxies of the Antennae
author: Anglo-Australian Observatory/David Malin Images/Novapix
reference: a-gax40-38004
Image Size 300 DPI: 40 * 51 cm
NGC 4038 and 4039 are the well-known pair of interacting galaxies that show two broadly curved tails of stars, the 'antennae', extending a considerable distance from the action. The colour picture reveals the burst of star formation triggered by the encounter, the large numbers of pink emission nebulae in the inter-galaxy region and the location of the numerous dark, brownish-yellow clouds of dust. The yellow nuclei of the two galaxies are also still visible in the colour picture as separate entities.