- Original Caption Released with Image:
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This beautiful pair of interacting galaxies consists of NGC 5754, the
large spiral on the right, and NGC 5752, the smaller companion in the
bottom left corner of the image. NGC 5754's internal structure has hardly
been disturbed by the interaction. The outer structure does exhibit tidal
features, as does the symmetry of the inner spiral pattern and the kinked
arms just beyond its inner ring. In contrast, NGC 5752 has undergone a
starburst episode, with a rich population of massive and luminous star
clusters clumping around the core and intertwined with intricate dust
lanes. The contrasting reactions of the two galaxies to their interaction
are due to their differing masses and sizes. NGC 5754 is located in the
constellation Boötes, the Herdsman, some 200 million light-years away.
This image is part of a large collection of 59 images of merging galaxies
taken by the Hubble Space Telescope and released on the occasion of its
18th anniversary on 24th April 2008. It was taken by the telescope's Wide
Field and Planetary Camera 2, which was designed and built by JPL.
- Image Credit:
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NASA, ESA, the Hubble Heritage Team (STScI/AURA)-ESA/Hubble Collaboration, and W. Keel (University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa)
Image Addition Date:
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2008-04-24
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