News Release Archive:

News Release 205 of 884

April 24, 2008 09:00 AM (EDT)

News Release Number: STScI-2008-16

Cosmic Collisions Galore!

Back

Image: Hubble Interacting Galaxy Arp 148

Screen-use options: These files are created for viewing on your monitor

Highest-quality download options: The best resolution available

ABOUT THIS IMAGE:

Arp 148 is the staggering aftermath of an encounter between two galaxies, resulting in a ring-shaped galaxy and a long-tailed companion. The collision between the two parent galaxies produced a shockwave effect that first drew matter into the center and then caused it to propagate outwards in a ring. The elongated companion perpendicular to the ring suggests that Arp 148 is a unique snapshot of an ongoing collision. Infrared observations reveal a strong obscuration region that appears as a dark dust lane across the nucleus in optical light. Arp 148 is nicknamed Mayall s object and is located in the constellation of Ursa Major, the Great Bear, approximately 500 million light-years away. This interacting pair of galaxies is included in Arp's catalog of peculiar galaxies as number 148.

This image is part of a large collection of 59 images of merging galaxies taken by the Hubble Space Telescope and released on the occasion of its 18th anniversary on 24th April 2008.

Object Names: Arp 148, VV 032, Mayall's Object, MCG+07-23-019

Image Type: Astronomical

Credit: NASA, ESA, the Hubble Heritage (STScI/AURA)-ESA/Hubble Collaboration, and A. Evans (University of Virginia, Charlottesville/NRAO/Stony Brook University)

Technical facts about this image:

About the Object

Object Name:	Arp 148, VV 032, Mayall's Object, MCG+07-23-019
Object Description:	Interacting Galaxies
Position (J2000):	11 03 53.95 +40 50 59.90
Constellation:	Ursa Major
Distance:	450 million light-years (150 million parsecs)

About the Data

Data Description:	The Hubble image was created using HST data from proposals 10592, 11091, and 6276: A. Evans (University of Virginia, Charlottesville/NRAO/Stony Brook University), K. Noll (STScI), and J. Westphal (Caltech)
Instrument:	WFPC2, ACS/WFC
Exposure Date(s):	October 9/10, 1995; November 20, 2005; and April 27-29, 2007
Exposure Time:	10.3 hours
Filters:	F336W (U), F450W (B), F606W (V), and F814W (I)

About the Image

Image Credit:	NASA, ESA, the Hubble Heritage (STScI/AURA)-ESA/Hubble Collaboration, and A. Evans (University of Virginia, Charlottesville/NRAO/Stony Brook University)
Release Date:	April 24, 2008