Hubble space telescope images inspire curiosity. Discovering the secrets of the universe truly is the last frontier. As scientists use this tool to gaze outward, the choice of direction can be arbitrary. The Hubble team found a striking image in June 2019. The distance of said image was 704 million light-years of interstellar space. At first glance, it appears to have a countenance of a ghoulish face. The Hubble team decided to publicly release the image in the spirit of Halloween.
What’s fascinating about the image is that it’s actually a pair of galaxies located in the Arp-Madore system heading straight towards each other in a slow-motion intergalactic head-on collision.
As per Hubble:
The side-by-side juxtaposition of the two central bulges of stars from the galaxies that we see here is also unusual. Since the bulges that form the “eyes” appear to be the same size, we can be sure that the two galaxies involved in the crash were of equal size. This is different from the more common collisions in which small galaxies are gobbled up by their larger neighbors.
Hubble observed this unique system as part of a “snapshot” program that takes advantage of occasional gaps in the telescope’s observing schedule to squeeze in additional pictures. Astronomers plan to use this innovative Hubble program to take a close look at many other unusual interacting galaxies. The goal is to compile a robust sample of nearby interacting galaxies, which could offer insights into how galaxies grew over time through galactic mergers. By analysing these detailed Hubble observations, astronomers will be able to decide which systems are prime targets for follow-up observations by the upcoming NASA/ESA/CSA James Webb Space Telescope, scheduled to launch in 2021.
The forces involved in this particular collision have pulled the gas and dust outwards, forming a temporary ring-like structure. The Hubble team had the good fortune of capturing a “snapshot” in time in which the appearance of said anomaly looked like a ghoulish face with the two galaxies forming its eyes.
Image: NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope
We at CuteMonster HQ can’t wait to see what new images are revealed when the James Webb Space Telescope arrives in 2021. Perhaps it will lead to first contact with intelligent life. At the very least, it will point us in new directions.
Editor’s Note: This newly discovered phenomena by the Hubble Space Telescope team could also be the realm of Ming the Merciless. Someone call Flash Gordon!
Queen – Flash
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