Hubble Presents: Galaxy NGC 6052 Located In The Constellation Of Hercules

| December 29, 2015 | Astronomy | No Comments

MessageToEagle.com – The Wide Field Planetary Camera 2 (WFPC2) was Hubble’s workhorse camera for many years.

One of Hubble’s most important instruments was used to observe just about everything. WFPC2 delivered many of the most famous Hubble pictures.

This image, taken with the Wide Field Planetary Camera 2 on board the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope, shows the galaxy NGC 6052, located around 230 million light-years away in the constellation of Hercules.

This image, taken with the Wide Field Planetary Camera 2 on board the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope, shows the galaxy NGC 6052, located around 230 million light-years away in the constellation of Hercules. Credit: ESA/Hubble & NASA, Acknowledgement: Judy Schmidt (Geckzilla)
This image, taken with the Wide Field Planetary Camera 2 on board the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope, shows the galaxy NGC 6052, located around 230 million light-years away in the constellation of Hercules. Credit: ESA/Hubble & NASA, Acknowledgement: Judy Schmidt (Geckzilla)

It would be reasonable to think of this as a single abnormal galaxy, and it was originally classified as such. However, it is in fact a “new” galaxy in the process of forming. Two separate galaxies have been gradually drawn together, attracted by gravity, and have collided. We now see them merging into a single structure.

As the merging process continues, individual stars are thrown out of their original orbits and placed onto entirely new paths, some very distant from the region of the collision itself. Since the stars produce the light we see, the “galaxy” now appears to have a highly chaotic shape.

Eventually, this new galaxy will settle down into a stable shape, which may not resemble either of the two original galaxies.

Here you can see some of the images taken

by Hubble’s Wide Field Planetary Camera 2

This image from Hubble’s Wide Field Planetary Camera 2 showcases NGC 1501, a complex planetary nebula located in the large but faint constellation of Camelopardalis (The Giraffe). Image credit: ESA/Hubble & NASA; acknowledgement: Marc Canale
This image from Hubble’s Wide Field Planetary Camera 2 showcases NGC 1501, a complex planetary nebula located in the large but faint constellation of Camelopardalis (The Giraffe). Image credit: ESA/Hubble & NASA; acknowledgement: Marc Canale
Super-detailed Crab Nebula: Hubble captured this mosaic image of the Crab Nebula (6,500 light years away) using the WFPC2 in 2000. Credits: Hubble Space Telescope
Super-detailed Crab Nebula: Hubble captured this mosaic image of the Crab Nebula (6,500 light years away) using the WFPC2 in 2000. Credits: Hubble Space Telescope
One of Hubble’s most famous images is of a structure in the Eagle Nebula called the Pillars of Creation. The original was amazing, but the telescope revisited this feature in 2014 using the improved WFC3 instrument. The above image shows both versions side-by-side. Credits: Hubble Space Telescope
One of Hubble’s most famous images is of a structure in the Eagle Nebula called the Pillars of Creation. The original was amazing, but the telescope revisited this feature in 2014 using the improved WFC3 instrument. The above image shows both versions side-by-side. Credits: Hubble Space Telescope
Two galaxies perform an intricate dance in this new Hubble Space Telescope image. The galaxies, containing a vast number of stars, swing past each other in a graceful performance choreographed by gravity. The pair, known collectively as Arp 87, is one of hundreds of interacting and merging galaxies known in our nearby universe.Credits: Hubble Space Telescope
Two galaxies perform an intricate dance in this new Hubble Space Telescope image. The galaxies, containing a vast number of stars, swing past each other in a graceful performance choreographed by gravity. The pair, known collectively as Arp 87, is one of hundreds of interacting and merging galaxies known in our nearby universe. Credits: Hubble Space Telescope

MessageToEagle.com

via NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope

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