NGC 6872 and IC 4970
Encyclopedia
NGC 6872 and IC 4970 are a set of interacting galaxies over 200 million light-year
s away in the constellation
Pavo
.
On March 29, 1999, the European Southern Observatory
(ESO) took a look at these galaxies. It shows the spectacular barred spiral galaxy NGC 6872 that is shaped like an "integral sign". It is of type SB(s)b pec and is accompanied by a smaller, interacting galaxy, IC 4970 of type E7-S0
One of NGC 6872 spiral arms is significantly disturbed and is populated by a plethora of bluish objects, many of which are star-forming regions. This may have been be caused by a recent passage of IC 4970 through it. The whole of NGC 6872 extends over more than 6 arcmin in the sky and its real size from tip to tip is thus nearly 380,000 light years. It is in fact one of the largest known barred spiral galaxies.
Light-year
A light-year, also light year or lightyear is a unit of length, equal to just under 10 trillion kilometres...
s away in the constellation
Constellation
In modern astronomy, a constellation is an internationally defined area of the celestial sphere. These areas are grouped around asterisms, patterns formed by prominent stars within apparent proximity to one another on Earth's night sky....
Pavo
Pavo (constellation)
Pavo is a constellation in the southern sky. Its name is Latin for peacock. It is one of twelve constellations created by Petrus Plancius from the observations of Pieter Dirkszoon Keyser and Frederick de Houtman and it first appeared on a 35-cm diameter celestial globe published in 1597 in...
.
On March 29, 1999, the European Southern Observatory
European Southern Observatory
The European Southern Observatory is an intergovernmental research organisation for astronomy, supported by fifteen countries...
(ESO) took a look at these galaxies. It shows the spectacular barred spiral galaxy NGC 6872 that is shaped like an "integral sign". It is of type SB(s)b pec and is accompanied by a smaller, interacting galaxy, IC 4970 of type E7-S0
One of NGC 6872 spiral arms is significantly disturbed and is populated by a plethora of bluish objects, many of which are star-forming regions. This may have been be caused by a recent passage of IC 4970 through it. The whole of NGC 6872 extends over more than 6 arcmin in the sky and its real size from tip to tip is thus nearly 380,000 light years. It is in fact one of the largest known barred spiral galaxies.