Anatomy of a cosmic bird

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A 30-min VLTNACO K-band exposure has been combined with archive HSTACS B and I-band images to produce a three-color image of the Bird interacting galaxy system. The NACO image has allowed astronomers to not only see the two previously known galaxies ...
A 30-min VLT/NACO K-band exposure has been combined with archive HST/ACS B and I-band images to produce a three-color image of the "Bird" interacting galaxy system. The NACO image has allowed astronomers to not only see the two previously known galaxies, but to identify a third, clearly separate component, an irregular, yet fairly massive galaxy that seems to form stars at a frantic rate. The final color image was produced by Henri Boffin (ESO). Credit: ESO

Using ESO's Very Large Telescope, an international team of astronomers has discovered a stunning rare case of a triple merger of galaxies. This system, which astronomers have dubbed 'The Bird' - albeit it also bears resemblance with a cosmic Tinker Bell - is composed of two massive spiral galaxies and a third irregular galaxy.


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All News summaries for December 21, 2007

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