Galactic Quartet

A quartet of interacting galaxies is captured in this observation from Gemini South, which is one of the twin telescopes of the International Gemini Observatory, operated by NSF’s NOIRLab. The four galaxies in this image are collectively known as NGC 6845, and lie roughly 270 million light-years from Earth in a constellation named, appropriately, Telescopium. This constellation is one of a handful named after scientific instruments rather than animals or mythological figures.

The galaxies in NGC 6845 come in two varieties: the pair of galaxies at the top of this image are well-defined spiral galaxies whereas the two below them are disk-shaped lenticular galaxies. Connecting the galaxies is evidence of star-forming regions and filaments made of stars detached from their original galaxies. Being relatively close neighbors, the galaxies in NGC 6845 are interacting. These gravitational interactions are subtly distorting the galaxies in NGC 6845, and astronomers believe that the two spiral galaxies will eventually evolve into lenticular galaxies.

Credit:

International Gemini Observatory/NOIRLab/NSF/AURA/G. Gimeno, R. J. Díaz, H. Dottori
Image processing: T.A. Rector (University of Alaska Anchorage/NSF’s NOIRLab), M. Zamani (NSF’s NOIRLab) & D. de Martin (NSF’s NOIRLab)

About the Image

Id:iotw2247a
Type:Observation
Release date:Nov. 23, 2022, noon
Size:2253 x 1989 px

About the Object

Name:NGC 6845
Distance:270 million light years
Constellation:Telescopium
Category:Galaxies

Image Formats

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780.7 KB
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Coordinates

ObjectValue
Position (RA):20 0 58.14
Position (Dec):-47° 4' 28.22"
Field of view:5.48 x 4.84 arcminutes
Orientation:North is 0.0° left of vertical


Colors & filters

BandWave-lengthTele-scope
Optical
r
630 nmGemini South
GMOS-S
Optical
i
780 nmGemini South
GMOS-S
Optical
z
925 nmGemini South
GMOS-S