Collision of The Taffy Galaxies: UGC12914 & UGC12915 | NOIRLab

Collision of The Taffy Galaxies: UGC12914 & UGC12915 | NOIRLab

Cosmoview Episode#64: The Gemini North telescope, one half of the International Gemini Observatory, operated by the National Science Foundation’s NOIRLab, captured this dazzling image of the so-called Taffy Galaxies—UGC 12914 and UGC 12915. Their twisted appearance is the result of a head-on collision that occurred about 25 million years prior to their appearance in this image. A bridge of highly turbulent gas devoid of significant star formation spans the gap between the two galaxies.

Credit:

Images and Videos: International Gemini Observatory/NOIRLab/DOE/NSF/AURA, T.A. Rector (University of Alaska Anchorage/NSF’s NOIRLab), J. Miller (Gemini Observatory/NSF’s NOIRLab), M. Rodriguez (Gemini Observatory/NSF’s NOIRLab), M. Zamani & D. de Martin (NSF’s NOIRLab), ESA/Hubble/L. Calcada, D. Munizaga, N. Bartmann

Duration: 1 minute

Release Date: March 24, 2023

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