Evolution in Slow Motion: Interacting Galaxies NGC 3921 in Ursa Major | Hubble
It is known today that merging galaxies play a large role in the evolution of galaxies and the formation of elliptical galaxies in particular. However there are only a few merging systems close enough to be observed in depth. The pair of interacting galaxies picture seen here—known as NGC 3921—is one of these systems. It was discovered on April 14, 1789 by William Herschel, and was described as "pretty faint, small, round" by John Louis Emil Dreyer, the compiler of the New General Catalogue (NGC).
Distance from Earth: 270 million light years
NGC 3921—found in the constellation of Ursa Major (The Great Bear)—is an interacting pair of disc galaxies in the late stages of its merger. Observations show that both of the galaxies involved were about the same mass and collided about 700 million years ago. You can see clearly in this image the disturbed morphology, tails and loops characteristic of a post-merger.
The clash of galaxies caused a rush of star formation and previous Hubble observations showed over a thousand bright, young star clusters bursting to life at the heart of the galaxy pair.
Acknowledgement: Judy Schmidt
Release Date: Sept. 14, 2015
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