Interacting Galaxies Arp 142: "Hummingbird or Penguin?" | Hubble

Interacting Galaxies Arp 142: "Hummingbird or Penguin?" | Hubble

This image shows two galaxies interacting. NGC 2936, once a standard spiral galaxy, and NGC 2937, a smaller elliptical, bear a striking resemblance to a penguin guarding its egg. Collectively called Arp 142, these galaxies are located about 300 million light years away toward the constellation of the Water Snake (Hydra). In a billion years or so the two galaxies will likely merge into one larger galaxy. 

This image is a combination of visible and infrared light, created from data gathered by the NASA/European Space Agency Hubble Space Telescope Wide Field Planetary Camera 3 (WFC3).

What is happening to this spiral galaxy? 

Just a few hundred million years ago, NGC 2936, the upper of the two large galaxies shown at the bottom, was likely a normal spiral galaxy—spinning, creating stars—and minding its own business. However, then it got too close to the massive elliptical galaxy NGC 2937, just below, and took a turn. Sometimes dubbed the Hummingbird Galaxy for its iconic shape, NGC 2936 is being deflected and distorted by this close gravitational interaction. 

Behind filaments of dark interstellar dust, bright blue stars form the nose of the hummingbird, while the center of the spiral appears as an eye.

Alternatively, the galaxy pair, together known as Arp 142, look to some like Porpoise or a penguin protecting an egg. This re-processed image by the Hubble Space Telescope shows Arp 142 in great detail.

Image Credit: NASA, European Space Agency (ESA) and the Hubble Heritage Team (STScI/AURA)

Processing & Copyright: Basudeb Chakrabarti

Release Date: Sept. 25, 2023

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