Astronomy Picture of the Day
Discover the cosmos! Each day a different image or photograph of our
fascinating universe is featured, along with a brief explanation
written by a professional astronomer.
2024 August 31
IFN and the NGC 7771 Group
Image Credit & Copyright: Steve Mandel and Bob Fera
Explanation: Galaxies of the NGC 7771 Group are featured in this
intriguing skyscape. Some 200 million light-years distant toward the
constellation Pegasus, NGC 7771 is the large, edge-on spiral near
center, about 75,000 light-years across, with two smaller galaxies
below it. Large spiral NGC 7769 is seen face-on to the right. Galaxies
of the NGC 7771 group are interacting, making repeated close passages
that will ultimately result in galaxy-galaxy mergers on a cosmic
timescale. The interactions can be traced by distortions in the shape
of the galaxies themselves and faint streams of stars created by their
mutual gravitational tides. But a clear view of this galaxy group is
difficult to come by as the deep image also reveals extensive clouds of
foreground dust sweeping across the field of view. The dim, dusty
galactic cirrus clouds are known as Integrated Flux Nebulae. The faint
IFN reflect starlight from our own Milky Way Galaxy and lie only a few
hundred light-years above the galactic plane.
Tomorrow's picture: moon dressing
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Authors & editors: Robert Nemiroff (MTU) & Jerry Bonnell (UMCP)
NASA Official: Amber Straughn Specific rights apply.
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& Michigan Tech. U.
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