Interacting Galaxies: Distance 420 Million Light-years | ESA Euclid Space Telescope

Interacting Galaxies: Distance 420 Million Light-years | ESA Euclid Space Telescope

This image shows an area of the mosaic released by the European Space Agency’s Euclid space telescope on October 15, 2024. The area is zoomed in 150 times compared to the large mosaic. On the left of the image, Euclid captured two galaxies (called ESO 364-G035 and G036) that are interacting with each other, 420 million light-years from us. On the right of the image, galaxy cluster Abell 3381 is visible, 678 million light-years away from us.

Image Description: Three groups of light sources, as well as a scatter of piercing dots of light with six faint spikes stand out in stark contrast against a black backdrop. The most prominent light sources occupy the center of the image. They are two hazy white spirals, that appear to be swirling in a cosmic dance with each other, with the lower spiral being larger than the one above it. On the right side of the image, two spots of gleaming yellow light draw attention. The hazy light blobs emit a golden glow from their center, which fades out in a circular shape into the background. In the bottom left corner of the picture, another spiral shape can be seen. It appears as if it is a thin white bar spinning in a circle and emitting a white spray of paint at its ends, leaving behind a diffuse trace of light.

Equatorial sky coordinates RA/DEC: 06:10:01.48 / -33:49:36.85

Galactic sky coordinates GLON/GLAT: 240.54, -22.75

Area: 0.007 sq. deg.

Image Credit: CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO or ESA Standard Licence

Release Date: Oct. 15, 2024

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