Outflows from merging galaxy J2118+0017

This NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope image of the galaxy J2118+0017 shows it is undergoing a firestorm of star birth, as shown by its bright white cores.

This star-making frenzy was ignited by mergers with other galaxies. The odd shape of the galaxy is telltale evidence of a close encounters.

The new Hubble Wide Field Camera 3 observations of this and eleven other galaxies undergoing the same process suggest that energy from the star-birthing frenzies created powerful winds that are blowing out the gas, meaning it is not available to form future generations of stars.

This activity occurred when the Universe was half its current age of 13.7 billion years. The gas-poor galaxies may eventually become so-called red and dead galaxies, composed only of aging stars.

This Hubble false-colour image was processed to bring out important details in the galaxy. The images were taken in 2010.

Links:

Credit:

NASA, ESA, and P. Sell (Texas Tech University)

About the Image

NASA press release
Id:opo1448m
Type:Observation
Release date:19 November 2014, 11:47
Size:800 x 800 px

About the Object

Name:J2118+0017
Type:Unspecified : Galaxy : Type : Interacting
Constellation:Aquarius
Category:Galaxies

Image Formats

r.titleLarge JPEG
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r.titleScreensize JPEG
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Coordinates

Position (RA):21 18 24.07
Position (Dec):0° 17' 29.04"
Field of view:0.27 x 0.27 arcminutes
Orientation:North is -0.0° left of vertical


Colours & filters

BandWavelengthTelescope
Infrared
I
814 nm Hubble Space Telescope
WFC3

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