This pair of galaxies are close enough together they are in a "tug of war" as they pass close enough to feel each other's gravitational pull. This is evident in the lopsided appearance of the blue galaxy on the left, NGC 2276. It is being pulled by the neighboring galaxy on the right, NGC 2300. There is a stark difference in color between the galaxies. NGC 2276 is rich in new star formation along its spiral arms. The companion, NGC 2300, consists of aging yellow-white stars and lacks any spiral arm structure. The dynamic duo lies 120 million light-years away in the northern constellation Cepheus.
Credits
Image
NASA, ESA, STScI, Adam Block (Steward Observatory)
| About The Object | |
|---|---|
| Object Name | NGC 2276 |
| Object Description | Wide-field image of spiral galaxy NGC 2276 |
| R.A. Position | 07:28 48.83 |
| Dec. Position | 85:44:35.06 |
| Constellation | Cepheus |
| Distance | 120 million light-years |
| About The Object | |
|---|---|
| Object Name | A name or catalog number that astronomers use to identify an astronomical object. |
| Object Description | The type of astronomical object. |
| R.A. Position | Right ascension – analogous to longitude – is one component of an object's position. |
| Dec. Position | Declination – analogous to latitude – is one component of an object's position. |
| Constellation | One of 88 recognized regions of the celestial sphere in which the object appears. |
| Distance | The physical distance from Earth to the astronomical object. Distances within our solar system are usually measured in Astronomical Units (AU). Distances between stars are usually measured in light-years. Interstellar distances can also be measured in parsecs. |
| Dimensions | The physical size of the object or the apparent angle it subtends on the sky. |
| About The Data | |
| Data Description |
|
| Instrument | The science instrument used to produce the data. |
| Exposure Dates | The date(s) that the telescope made its observations and the total exposure time. |
| Filters | The camera filters that were used in the science observations. |
| About The Image | |
| Image Credit | The primary individuals and institutions responsible for the content. |
| Publication Date | The date and time the release content became public. |
| Color Info | A brief description of the methods used to convert telescope data into the color image being presented. |
| Orientation | The rotation of the image on the sky with respect to the north pole of the celestial sphere. |
