Spiral galaxy NGC 6872, composite image. This large barred spiral galaxy, also called the Condor Galaxy, is over 212 million light years distant in th

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Spiral galaxy NGC 6872, composite image. This large barred spiral galaxy, also called the Condor Galaxy, is over 212 million light years distant in the constellation of Pavo. From tip to tip, it is 522,000 light years across. It is interacting with the smaller galaxy IC 4970 (upper centre). This composite image consists of visible light data from the Very Large Telescope, ultraviolet data from GALEX (Galaxy Evolution Explorer), and infrared data from the Spitzer Space Telescope. At upper left is a previously unknown tidal dwarf galaxy candidate. It appears only in ultraviolet, indicating the presence of many hot young stars. Image published in 2013.

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Size: 3995px × 2247px
Photo credit: © NASA/GODDARD SPACE FLIGHT CENTER/ESO/JPL-CALTECH/DSS/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

Keywords: 2013, 4970, 6872, arms, astronomical, astronomy, astrophysical, astrophysics, barred, colliding, composite, condor, dwarf, evolution, explorer, galaxies, galaxy, galex, gravitational, gravity, ic, infrared, interacting, interaction, large, ngc, optical, pavo, space, spiral, spitzer, sst, telescope, ultraviolet, universe, uv, visible, vla