Copyright:Warren Keller
原文:
Spiral galaxy NGC 3169 appears to be unraveling in this cosmic scene, played out some 70 million light-years away just below bright star Regulus toward the faint constellation Sextans. Its beautiful spiral arms are distorted into sweeping tidal tails as NGC 3169 (top) and neighboring NGC 3166 interact gravitationally, a common fate even for bright galaxies in the local universe. In fact, drawn out stellar arcs and plumes, indications of gravitational interactions, seem rampant in the deep and colorful galaxy group photo. The picture spans 20 arc minutes, or about 400,000 light-years at the group’s estimated distance, and includes smaller, dimmer NGC 3165 at bottom right. NGC 3169 is also known to shine across the spectrum from radio to X-rays, harboring an active galactic nucleus that is likely the site of a supermassive black hole.
中文翻譯:
🌀 螺旋星系 NGC 3169 在這幅宇宙場景中似乎正慢慢解開，距離我們約 7000 萬光年，位於明亮的恆星 Regulus 之下，朝向微弱的星座 Sextans。NGC 3169（上方）的美麗螺旋臂在與鄰近的 NGC 3166 進行重力互動時變得失去形狀，這是即使在本地宇宙中明亮星系也會面對的共同命運。事實上，這幅深邃而色彩繽紛的星系組合照片中，扭曲的恆星弧和羽毛狀的結構顯示了重力互動的跡象，隨處可見。這幅照片的範圍達 20 角分，約相當於 40 萬光年。畫面中還包含較小且黯淡的 NGC 3165（位於右下角）。NGC 3169 的光譜跨越從無線電到 X 射線，並擁有一個活躍的星系核，這很可能是超大質量黑洞的所在地。
#宇宙奇觀 #NGC3169 #星系互動 #螺旋星系 #天文學 #黑洞 #Sextans #星系影像 #重力互動 #太空探索
來源:NASA每日圖片
