This new image from the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope shows two galaxies (NGC 3447A and NGC 3447B) merging into one approximately 60 million light-years away from Earth.
This Hubble image captures an ongoing cosmic collision between two galaxies: NGC 3447A and NGC 3447B. Image credit: NASA / ESA / Hubble.
The more diffuse and patchy blue glow covering the right side of the frame is known as NGC 3447 — sometimes NGC 3447B for clarity, as the name NGC 3447 can apply to the overall duo.
The smaller clump to the upper left is known as NGC 3447A.
This pair was discovered on March 18, 1836 by the British astronomer John Herschel.
It is located about 60 million light-years away toward the constellation of Leo.
Astronomers know NGC 3447 comprises a couple of interacting galaxies, but they’re unsure what each looked like before they began to tear one another apart.
The two sit so close that they are strongly influenced and distorted by the gravitational forces between them, causing the galaxies to twist themselves into the unusual and unique shapes seen here.
NGC 3447A appears to display the remnants of a central bar structure and some disrupted spiral arms, both properties characteristic of certain spiral galaxies.
Some identify NGC 3447B as a former spiral galaxy, while others categorize it as being an irregular galaxy.
This image is a composite of separate exposures acquired by Hubble’s Wide Field Camera 3 (WFC3).
It is based on data obtained through three filters: a green filter (F555W), a near-infrared filter (F814W), and a very broad filter (F350LP).
The color results from assigning different hues to each monochromatic image associated with an individual filter.
