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> Interacting galaxies NGC 6786 and LEDA 62867

Interacting galaxies NGC 6786 and LEDA 62867

author: Nasa/Esa/Hubble Heritage Team/Novapix

reference: a-gax67-86001

Image Size 300 DPI: 30 * 30 cm

This Hubble image displays a beautiful pair of interacting spiral galaxies with swirling arms. The smaller of the two, dubbed LEDA 62867 and positioned to the left of the frame, seems to be safe for now, but will probably be swallowed by the larger spiral galaxy, NGC 6786 (to the right) eventually. There is already some disturbance visible in both components. The pair is number 538 in Karachentsev's Catalog of Pairs of Galaxies. A supernova was seen to explode in the large spiral in 2004. NGC 6786 is located in the constellation of Draco, the Dragon, about 350 million light-years away. Image taken by the Hubble space telescope on march 10, 2002.

Keywords for this photo:

2002 - 2008 - ASTRONOMY - DRACO - GALAXY - HST - HUBBLE SPACE TELESCOPE - INTERACTING - LEDA 62867 - NGC 6786 - SPIRAL GALAXY - STAR -