UGC 5101
UGC 5101 is a peculiar galaxy with a single nucleus contained within an unstructured main body that suggests a recent interaction and merger. NGC 5101 is thought to contain an active galactic nucleus - an extremely bright, compact core - buried deep in the gas and dust. A pronounced tail extends diagonally to the top-left of the frame. A fainter halo of stars surrounds the galaxy and is visible in the image, due to Hubble's ability to collect and detect faint light. This halo is probably a result of the earlier collision. UCG 5101 is about 550 million light-years away from Earth.
This image is part of a large collection of 59 images of merging galaxies taken by the Hubble Space Telescope and released on the occasion of its 18th anniversary on 24th April 2008.
Credit:
NASA, ESA, the Hubble Heritage Team (STScI/AURA)-ESA/Hubble Collaboration and A. Evans (University of Virginia, Charlottesville/NRAO/Stony Brook University)
About the Image
| Id: | heic0810br |
| Type: | Observation |
| Release date: | 24 April 2008, 15:00 |
| Related releases: | heic0810 |
| Size: | 2936 x 2936 px |
About the Object
| Name: | UGC 5101 |
| Type: | • Local Universe : Galaxy : Type : Interacting |
| Distance: | 500 million light years |
Colours & filters
| Band | Wavelength | Telescope |
| Optical B |
435 nm | Hubble Space Telescope ACS |
| Optical Pseudogreen (B+I) |
Hubble Space Telescope ACS | |
| Infrared I |
814 nm | Hubble Space Telescope ACS |
