Explanation:
Two galaxies are squaring off in Virgo and here are the latest pictures.
When two
galaxies collide, the stars that compose them usually do not.
This is because galaxies
are mostly empty space and, however bright, stars only take up only a small fraction of that space.
But during the
collision, one galaxy can rip the other apart gravitationally, and dust and gas common to both galaxies does
collide.
If the two galaxies merge, black holes that likely resided in each galaxy center
may eventually
merge.
Because the distances are so large, the
whole thing takes place in slow motion -- over hundreds of millions of years.
Besides the two
large spiral galaxies,
a smaller third galaxy is visible on the far left of the
above image of Arp 274, also known as NGC 5679.
Arp 274 spans about 200,000
light years across and lies about 400 million light years away toward the
constellation of Virgo.
digg_url = 'http://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap090407.html'; digg_skin = 'compact';
