‘Taffy Galaxies’ Collide, Leave Behind Bridge of Star-Forming Material (IMAGE)

Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy (AURA)

‘Taffy Galaxies’ Collide, Leave Behind Bridge of Star-Forming Material

Caption

The Gemini North telescope, one half of the International Gemini Observatory, operated by NSF’s NOIRLab, captured this dazzling image of the so-called Taffy Galaxies — UGC 12914 and UGC 12915. Their twisted appearance is the result of a head-on collision that occurred about 25 million years prior to their appearance in this image. A bridge of highly turbulent gas devoid of significant star formation spans the gap between the two galaxies.

Credit

International Gemini Observatory/NOIRLab/NSF/AURA Image Processing: M. Rodriguez (NSF’s NOIRLab), T.A. Rector (University of Alaska Anchorage/NSF’s NOIRLab), J. Miller (Gemini Observatory/NSF’s NOIRLab), M. Rodriguez (Gemini Observatory/NSF’s NOIRLab), M. Zamani (NSF’s NOIRLab) & D. de Martin (NSF’s NOIRLab) Acknowledgment: PI: A. S. Castelli (Universidad Nacional de la Plata)

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