Arp 87：来自哈勃的合并星系
(原标题: Arp 87: Merging Galaxies from Hubble)
2023-10-24
浏览次数: 63
这支舞是至死方休。当这两个大星系决斗时，一座由恒星、气体和尘埃组成的宇宙桥梁目前绵延75000光年，并将它们连接在一起。这座桥本身就是有力的证据，证明这两个巨大的恒星系统曾经彼此靠近，并经历了由相互引力引起的剧烈潮汐。作为进一步的证据，右边的正面螺旋星系，也被称为NGC 3808A，展示了许多在恒星形成爆发中产生的年轻蓝色星团。左边扭曲的螺旋星系（NGC 3808B）似乎被连接星系的物质包裹着，并被一个奇怪的极环包围着。这个系统被称为Arp 87。虽然这样的相互作用持续了数十亿年，但重复的近距离通道最终会形成一个合并的星系。虽然这种情况看起来不寻常，但星系合并被认为是常见的，arp87代表了这一不可避免的过程中的一个阶段。阿尔普87跳舞的双星距离狮子（狮子座）约3亿光年。最左边的突出的边缘螺旋星系似乎是一个更遥远的背景星系，并没有参与正在进行的合并。
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This dance is to the death. As these two large galaxies duel, a cosmic bridge of stars, gas, and dust currently stretches over 75,000 light-years and joins them. The bridge itself is strong evidence that these two immense star systems have passed close to each other and experienced violent tides induced by mutual gravity. As further evidence, the face-on spiral galaxy on the right, also known as NGC 3808A, exhibits many young blue star clusters produced in a burst of star formation. The twisted edge-on spiral on the left (NGC 3808B) seems to be wrapped in the material bridging the galaxies and surrounded by a curious polar ring. Together, the system is known as Arp 87. While such interactions are drawn out over billions of years, repeated close passages will ultimately create one merged galaxy. Although this scenario does look unusual, galactic mergers are thought to be common, with Arp 87 representing a stage in this inevitable process. The Arp 87 dancing pair are about 300 million light-years distant toward the constellation of the Lion (Leo). The prominent edge-on spiral galaxy at the far left appears to be a more distant background galaxy and not involved in the on-going merger.