哈勃影像：蝌蚪星系

2021年06月21日

The Tadpole Galaxy from Hubble
Image Credit: Hubble Legacy Archive, ESA, NASA; Processing: Amal Biju

Explanation: Why does this galaxy have such a long tail? In this stunning vista, based on image data from the Hubble Legacy Archive, distant galaxies form a dramatic backdrop for disrupted spiral galaxy Arp 188, the Tadpole Galaxy. The cosmic tadpole is a mere 420 million light-years distant toward the northern constellation of the Dragon (Draco). Its eye-catching tail is about 280 thousand light-years long and features massive, bright blue star clusters. One story goes that a more compact intruder galaxy crossed in front of Arp 188 – from right to left in this view – and was slung around behind the Tadpole by their gravitational attraction. During the close encounter, tidal forces drew out the spiral galaxy’s stars, gas, and dust forming the spectacular tail. The intruder galaxy itself, estimated to lie about 300 thousand light-years behind the Tadpole, can be seen through foreground spiral arms at the upper right. Following its terrestrial namesake, the Tadpole Galaxy will likely lose its tail as it grows older, the tail’s star clusters forming smaller satellites of the large spiral galaxy.

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Tomorrow’s picture: disk jets

哈勃影像：蝌蚪星系
影像提供: Hubble Legacy Archive, ESA, NASA; 影像处理: Amal Biju

说明: 这个星系为何有这么长的尾巴？在这幅用哈勃太空望远镜数据制作出的精采影像里，遥远星系织成美丽的背景，而主角则是备受干扰的螺旋星系Arp 188（蝌蚪星系）。这只宇宙级的蝌蚪位在北天的天龙座内，离我们只有4亿2千万光年远。它吸睛的尾巴长达28万光年，是由许多庞大明亮的蓝色星团所组成。其中说法之一如是说：有个小而密实的星系，曾经从它的前方由右至左掠过，然后被蝌蚪星系的重力甩到后方去。在靠得很近的时候，潮汐力把这个螺旋星系的恒星、云气和尘埃拉了出去，形成一条怪异但很很壮观的长尾。这个闯祸的星系，据估计位在蝌蚪星系后方约30万光年的地方，于右上角旋涡臂的缝隙里就能看见它。就像地球上同名的动物一样，随着蝌蚪星系的年龄增长，它的尾巴很可能也会消失，而位在长尾的这些星团，会聚成这个大螺旋星系的小型伴星系。

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