Hubblecast 31: sky merger yields sparkling dividends

A bright and bizarre galaxy called NGC 2623 is the focus of this Hubblecast. The single galaxy is the product of the merger of two distinct galaxies. The union has spawned new star formation and activated one of the supermassive black holes found at the centres of the two original galaxies, causing it to emit light across a wide spectrum. The galaxy is part of the GOALS (The Great Observatory All-sky LIRG) Survey that combines the powers of four space telescopes to study over 200 of the most luminous infrared galaxies in the local Universe.

ESA/Hubble
Visual design & Editing: Martin Kornmesser
Animations: Martin Kornmesser & Patrik Jonsson, Greg Novak & Joel Primack, UC Santa Cruz
Web Technical Support: Lars Holm Nielsen & Raquel Yumi Shida
Written by: Colleen Sharkey
Narration: Dr. J
Music: movetwo & John Dyson from the CD Darklight
Still images: XMM-Newton: ESA/Chandra: NASA/Galex: NASA/JPL-Caltech/ Spitzer: NASA/JPL-Caltech
Directed by: Colleen Sharkey
Executive director: Lars Lindberg Christensen
Acknowledgement: Dr. Eckhard Sturm