The discovery of the Antennae Galaxies took place in the southern constellation of the Crow (Corvus), where two massive galaxies, called NGC 4038 and NGC 4039, are slowly and heavily colliding with each other. During this collision process, stars between the galaxies rarely collide, but giant clouds of molecular gas and dust collide, triggering the formation of new stars. While this interaction creates an enormous cosmic debris, the image, spanning an area of about 500,000 light-years, reveals new star clusters and matter dispersed by gravitational tides.

The image was obtained by combining a total of 88 hours of observational data using a ground-based telescope between 2012 and 2021. This spectacularly sharp image gives Arp 244, also known as the Antennae Galaxies, a characteristic shape with tidal tails extending outwards.

Looks like a little heart, doesn't it?

Source: NASA, Evrim Ağacı