Post by spacecowboy2006 on Dec 19, 2016 18:03:03 GMT
APOD 12-18-2016 Matching Image
Part of a group of galaxies about 400 million light years away in the constellation Sculptor. The galaxy's rim spans over 100,000 light years and is composed of star forming regions filled with extremely bright and massive stars. The Cartwheel's ring-like shape is the result of gravitational disruption caused by a smaller galaxy passing through a large one, compressing the interstellar gas and dust and causing a star formation wave to move out like a ripple across the surface of a pond.
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Part of a group of galaxies about 400 million light years away in the constellation Sculptor. The galaxy's rim spans over 100,000 light years and is composed of star forming regions filled with extremely bright and massive stars. The Cartwheel's ring-like shape is the result of gravitational disruption caused by a smaller galaxy passing through a large one, compressing the interstellar gas and dust and causing a star formation wave to move out like a ripple across the surface of a pond.
apod link link