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Collection:
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NASA Spitzer Space Telescope Collection
Collection
NASA Spitzer Space Telescope Collection
Collection
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Title:
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Fire Within the Antennae Galaxies
Title
Fire Within the Antennae Galaxies
Title
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Description:
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This false-color image from NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope reveals hidden populations of newborn stars at the heart of the colliding "Antennae" galaxies. These two galaxies, known individually as NGC 4038 and 4039, are located around 68 million light-years away and have been merging together for about the last 800 million years. The latest Spitzer observations provide a snapshot of the tremendous burst of star formation triggered in the process of this collision, particularly at the site where the two galaxies overlap.
The main image is a false-color composite of infrared data from Spitzer and visible-light data from Kitt Peak National Observatory, Tucson, Ariz. Visible light from stars in the galaxies (blue and green) is shown together with infrared light from warm dust clouds heated by newborn stars (red).
The two nuclei, or centers, of the merging galaxies show up as yellow-white areas, one above the other. The brightest clouds of forming stars lie in the overlap region between and left of the nuclei.
The upper right panel shows the Spitzer image by itself. This picture was taken by the infrared array camera and is a combination of infrared light ranging from 3.6 microns (shown in blue) to 8.0 microns (shown in red). The dust emission (red) is by far the strongest feature in this image. Starlight was systematically subtracted from the longer wavelength data (red) to enhance dust features.
The lower right panel shows the true-color, visible-light image by itself. Here, we find a strikingly different view, with the bright star-forming features seen in the Spitzer image buried within dark clouds of dust.
Throughout the sky, astronomers have identified many of these so-called "interacting" galaxies, whose spiral discs have been stretched and distorted by their mutual gravity as they pass close to one another. The distances involved are so large that the interactions evolve on timescales comparable to geologic changes on Earth. Observations of such galaxies, combined with computer models of these collisions, show that the galaxies often become forever bound to one another, eventually merging into a single, spheroidal-shaped galaxy.
In the Spitzer image, wavelengths of 3.6 microns are represented in blue, 4.5 microns in green and 5.8-8.0 microns in red. In the composite image, wavelengths of .44 microns are represented in blue, .70 microns in green and 8.0 microns in red. The Spitzer image was taken on Dec. 24, 2003.
Description
This false-color image from NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope reveals hidden populations of newborn stars at the heart of the colliding "Antennae" galaxies. These two galaxies, known individually as NGC 4038 and 4039, are located around 68 million light-years away and have been merging together for about the last 800 million years. The latest Spitzer observations provide a snapshot of the tremendous burst of star formation triggered in the process of this collision, particularly at the site where the two galaxies overlap.
The main image is a false-color composite of infrared data from Spitzer and visible-light data from Kitt Peak National Observatory, Tucson, Ariz. Visible light from stars in the galaxies (blue and green) is shown together with infrared light from warm dust clouds heated by newborn stars (red).
The two nuclei, or centers, of the merging galaxies show up as yellow-white areas, one above the other. The brightest clouds of forming stars lie in the overlap region between and left of the nuclei.
The upper right panel shows the Spitzer image by itself. This picture was taken by the infrared array camera and is a combination of infrared light ranging from 3.6 microns (shown in blue) to 8.0 microns (shown in red). The dust emission (red) is by far the strongest feature in this image. Starlight was systematically subtracted from the longer wavelength data (red) to enhance dust features.
The lower right panel shows the true-color, visible-light image by itself. Here, we find a strikingly different view, with the bright star-forming features seen in the Spitzer image buried within dark clouds of dust.
Throughout the sky, astronomers have identified many of these so-called "interacting" galaxies, whose spiral discs have been stretched and distorted by their mutual gravity as they pass close to one another. The distances involved are so large that the interactions evolve on timescales comparable to geologic changes on Earth. Observations of such galaxies, combined with computer models of these collisions, show that the galaxies often become forever bound to one another, eventually merging into a single, spheroidal-shaped galaxy.
In the Spitzer image, wavelengths of 3.6 microns are represented in blue, 4.5 microns in green and 5.8-8.0 microns in red. In the composite image, wavelengths of .44 microns are represented in blue, .70 microns in green and 8.0 microns in red. The Spitzer image was taken on Dec. 24, 2003.
Description
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Release Date:
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2004/09/07
Release_Date
2004/09/07
Release Date
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Press Release:
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Press_Release
Press Release
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Release Credit:
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NASA/JPL-Caltech/Z. Wang (Harvard-Smithsonian CfA); Visible: M. Rushing/NOAO
Release_Credit
NASA/JPL-Caltech/Z. Wang (Harvard-Smithsonian CfA); Visible: M. Rushing/NOAO
Release Credit
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Image Credit:
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NASA/JPL-Caltech/Z.W ang (Harvard-Smithsonian CfA) Visible Light Image Credit: Mary Jo Rushing and Jim Lawler/Adam Block/NOAO/AURA/NSF
Image_Credit
NASA/JPL-Caltech/Z.W ang (Harvard-Smithsonian CfA) Visible Light Image Credit: Mary Jo Rushing and Jim Lawler/Adam Block/NOAO/AURA/NSF
Image Credit
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Object name:
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NGC 4038/4039 - the Antennae Galaxies
Object_name
NGC 4038/4039 - the Antennae Galaxies
Object name
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Object type:
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Interacting galaxies
Object_type
Interacting galaxies
Object type
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Position (J2000):
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*RA: *12h01m53.11s *Dec: *-18d52m4.80s
Position_(J2000)
*RA: *12h01m53.11s *Dec: *-18d52m4.80s
Position (J2000)
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Distance:
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21 Mpc or 68 million light-years
Distance
21 Mpc or 68 million light-years
Distance
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Constellation:
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Corvus
Constellation
Corvus
Constellation
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Wavelength:
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Spitzer Image: 3.6 (blue), 4.5 (green), 5.8-8.0 (red) microns; Composite Image: 0.44 (blue), 0.70 (green), 8.0 (red) microns
Wavelength
Spitzer Image: 3.6 (blue), 4.5 (green), 5.8-8.0 (red) microns; Composite Image: 0.44 (blue), 0.70 (green), 8.0 (red) microns
Wavelength
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Image scale:
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4.3x4.3 arcmin
Image_scale
4.3x4.3 arcmin
Image scale
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Observers:
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Zhong Wang - Principal Investigator (Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics)
M Ashby (Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics)
G Fazio (Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics)
W Forrest (University of Rochester)
J Huang (Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics)
M Pahre (Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics)
Judith Pipher (University of Rochester)
H Smith (Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics)
Jason Surace (Spitzer Science Center)
S Willner (Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics)
Observers
Zhong Wang - Principal Investigator (Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics)
M Ashby (Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics)
G Fazio (Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics)
W Forrest (University of Rochester)
J Huang (Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics)
M Pahre (Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics)
Judith Pipher (University of Rochester)
H Smith (Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics)
Jason Surace (Spitzer Science Center)
S Willner (Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics)
Observers
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Instrument:
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IRAC
Instrument
IRAC
Instrument
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Exposure Date:
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24 December 2003
Exposure_Date
24 December 2003
Exposure Date
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Exposure Time:
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160 sec
Exposure_Time
160 sec
Exposure Time
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Orientation:
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North is 5.5 deg clockwise from up
Orientation
North is 5.5 deg clockwise from up
Orientation
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note:
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*Composite view* Screen-Resolution (450x450): JPEG [ http://ipac.jpl.nas…ssc2004-14a1_small.j pg ] High-Resolution (1125x1125): JPEG | Mac TIFF | PC TIFF Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/Z. Wang (Harvard-Smithsonian CfA)
note
*Composite view* Screen-Resolution (450x450): JPEG [ http://ipac.jpl.nas…ssc2004-14a1_small.j pg ] High-Resolution (1125x1125): JPEG | Mac TIFF | PC TIFF Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/Z. Wang (Harvard-Smithsonian CfA) note
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note:
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*IRAC view* Screen-Resolution (450x450): JPEG [ http://ipac.jpl.nas…ssc2004-14a2_small.j pg ] High-Resolution (1125x1125): JPEG | Mac TIFF | PC TIFF Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/Z. Wang (Harvard-Smithsonian CfA)
note
*IRAC view* Screen-Resolution (450x450): JPEG [ http://ipac.jpl.nas…ssc2004-14a2_small.j pg ] High-Resolution (1125x1125): JPEG | Mac TIFF | PC TIFF Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/Z. Wang (Harvard-Smithsonian CfA) note
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note:
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*Visible-light view* Screen-Resolution (450x450): JPEG [ http://ipac.jpl.nas…ssc2004-14a3_small.j pg ] High-Resolution (1125x1125): JPEG | Mac TIFF | PC TIFF Credit: M. Rushing/NOAO
note
*Visible-light view* Screen-Resolution (450x450): JPEG [ http://ipac.jpl.nas…ssc2004-14a3_small.j pg ] High-Resolution (1125x1125): JPEG | Mac TIFF | PC TIFF Credit: M. Rushing/NOAO note
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facet_what:
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Spitzer Space Telescope
facet_what
Spitzer Space Telescope
facet_what
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facet_what:
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Earth
facet_what
Earth
facet_what
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facet_what:
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Visible Light
facet_what
Visible Light
facet_what
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facet_what:
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Aura
facet_what
Aura
facet_what
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facet_what:
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Snapshot
facet_what
Snapshot
facet_what
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facet_what:
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Corvus
facet_what
Corvus
facet_what
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facet_what:
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galaxies
facet_what
galaxies
facet_what
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facet_what:
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Infrared Array Camera (IRAC)
facet_what
Infrared Array Camera (IRAC)
facet_what
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facet_where:
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Antennae Galaxies
facet_where
Antennae Galaxies
facet_where
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facet_where:
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NGC 4038
facet_where
NGC 4038
facet_where
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facet_where:
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Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL)
facet_where
Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL)
facet_where
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facet_where:
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Washington, D.C.
facet_where
Washington, D.C.
facet_where
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facet_when:
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24 December 2003
facet_when
24 December 2003
facet_when
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facet_when_year:
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2003
facet_when_year
2003
facet_when_year
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Image #:
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SSC2004-14a
Image_#
SSC2004-14a
Image #
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original url:
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original_url
original url
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UID:
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SPD-SPITZ-SSC2004-14 a
UID
SPD-SPITZ-SSC2004-14 a
UID
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