Journey to The "Atoms-for-Peace" Galaxy | NGC 7252 in Aquarius | ESO

Journey to The "Atoms-for-Peace" Galaxy | NGC 7252 in Aquarius | ESO

In this zoom sequence we start with a very wide-field view of the constellation of Aquarius, far from the Milky Way and lacking bright objects. At the start north is to the right and the brightest star is Fomalhaut. As we zoom in we see a tiny fuzzy ball appear with curious appendages. This is a collision between two galaxies, a strange object known as NGC 7252, or Arp 226, and with the odd nickname "Atoms-for-Peace". The final very deep and detailed view is a new image taken with the Wide Field Imager on the MPG/ESO 2.2-meter telescope at the European Southern Observatory’s La Silla Observatory in Chile.

Distance from Earth: 220 million light years

In December 1953, U.S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower gave a speech advocating the use of nuclear power for peaceful purposes. This “Atoms for Peace” speech was significant for the scientific community, as it brought nuclear research into the public domain. NGC 7252 has a superficial resemblance to an atomic nucleus surrounded by the loops of electronic orbits. Thus, it was dubbed the Atoms for Peace galaxy in honor of this. These loops are well visible in this wide field image.

This nickname is quite ironic, as the galaxy’s past was anything but peaceful. Its peculiar appearance is the result of a collision between two galaxies that took place about a billion years ago. This ripped both galaxies apart. The loop-like outer structures, likely made up of dust and stars flung outwards by the crash, but recalling orbiting electrons in an atom, are partly responsible for the galaxy’s nickname.

Learn about MPG/ESO 2.2-meter telescope: https://www.eso.org/public/teles-instr/lasilla/mpg22/

Credit: European Southern Observatory (ESO)/Digitized Sky Survey 2/A. Fujii

Duration: 1 minute
Release Date: Nov. 10, 2010

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