Galaxy Collision in NGC 6745
What appears as a bird's head, leaning over to snatch up a tasty meal, is a striking example of a galaxy collision in NGC 6745. A large spiral galaxy, with its nucleus still intact, peers at the smaller passing galaxy (nearly out of the field of view at lower right), while a bright blue beak and bright whitish-blue top feathers show the distinct path taken during the smaller galaxy's journey. These galaxies did not merely interact gravitationally as they passed one another, they actually collided.
Credit:
About the Image
NASA press release
NASA caption
NASA caption
| Id: | opo0034a |
| Type: | Observation |
| Release date: | 2 November 2000, 07:00 |
| Size: | 755 x 726 px |
About the Object
| Name: | IRAS 19000+4040, NGC 6745 |
| Type: | • Local Universe : Galaxy : Type : Interacting • Galaxies Images/Videos |
| Distance: | 200 million light years |
Colours & filters
| Band | Wavelength | Telescope |
| Optical U |
336 nm | Hubble Space Telescope WFPC2 |
| Optical V |
555 nm | Hubble Space Telescope WFPC2 |
| Infrared I |
814 nm | Hubble Space Telescope WFPC2 |
