Irregular Galaxy NGC 1427
Irregular galaxy NGC 1427, Hubble Space Telescope image. This galaxy has been distorted by the gravitational field of the nearby Fornax cluster of galaxies (not seen). The gravitational attraction is causing it to move rapidly towards the cluster. In this motion it collides with intergalactic gas and dust in the cluster, which compresses its gas. This compression leads to the gas condensing into stars, and the galaxy contains numerous pink starbirth regions. NGC 1427 lies around 62 million light years from Earth in the constellation Fornax. Image taken in January 2003.
Size: 3377px × 3808px
Photo credit: © Photo Researchers / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
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Keywords: 1427, 2003, 21st, astronomical, astronomy, astrophysical, astrophysics, body, celestial, century, cluster, collision, formation, fornax, galactic, galaxies, galaxy, gas, heavenly, hubble, irregular, nebula, ngc, object, planet, planetary, science, space, star, starbirth, stars, telescope, universe, vertical
