Galaxy Zoo Talk

Galaxy that looks like fat worm

  • armartini by armartini

    I have come across this galaxy that has a bulge in the middle and then a light fog type of thing around it. It looks cool and I wonder if it's like a dust cloud or something else? Anyone know?

    Posted

  • Capella05 by Capella05 moderator

    Looks like two merging galaxies 😃

    We have a larger galaxy at the center that is merging with a smaller galaxy in the lower right. Each of the galaxies has a gravitational effect on the other, so we tend to get streams or a 'tidal tails' of stars getting pulled out of their respective galaxies. The process of merging also accounts for the really disturbed look of central galaxy in the upper 12 o'clock position.

    Hope this helps, and please post another other questions you have 😃

    ~ Capella05

    Posted