This week’s image from the Hubble Space Telescope shows two galaxies that are in the process of merging together, in the VV-689 system. This system is known as the Angel’s Wing because of the wing-shaped shape created by the collision of two galaxies.
This particular image was taken as a continuation of a public research project called Galactic Zoo. Galaxy Zoo has invited members of the public to assist in astronomical research by helping to identify and classify different types of galaxies based on data collected by telescopes.
The project has been running since 2007, and during that time 15 different versions of the project have received millions of classifications from the public to help identify bright galaxies, interacting or merging galaxies, other phenomena such as supernovae and more. The Galaxy Zoo Hubble project, which ran from 2010 to 2012, focused on data from Hubble, comparing older galaxies with their younger counterparts.
There was also a similar project called Radio Galaxy Zoo: LOFAR, which offered the public to help identify supermassive black holes using radio telescope data.
After the success of the Galaxy Zoo project – which is still open for contributionsif you want to help – researchers with Hubble have started the next project called Gems of the zoo, who took a closer look at particularly interesting galaxies identified as part of the Galaxy Zoo. They took advantage of this short gaps in Hubble’s schedule which would otherwise be unfilled to make images of attractive and interesting objects.
“Hubble’s Advanced Survey Camera conducted detailed follow-up observations of noteworthy objects from both projects (Galaxy Zoo and Radio Galaxy Zoo: LOFAR),” said Hubble scientists. to write. “According to the crowdsourcing nature of the Galaxy Zoo, the public cast 18,000 votes to select targets for Hubble’s next observations. Selected targets include ring-shaped galaxies, unusual spirals, and an amazing selection of merging galaxies such as VV-689 ”.
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Hubble captures an angelic merger of galaxies
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