Pair of merging galaxies in the constellation Delphinus
Zwicky II 96
Galaxy Interaction (ZW II 96)
Observation data (J2000 epoch)
Constellation
Delphinus[1]
Right ascension
20h 57m 23.9s[2]
Declination
+17° 07′ 39″[2]
Redshift
10822 ± 10 km/s[2]
Distance
0.5 Gly[1]
Apparent magnitude (V)
15.2[2]
Characteristics
Type
[2]
Apparent size (V)
0'.2[2]
Notable features
H II region[2]
Other designations
II Zw 096,[2] PGC 65779[2]
The object ZW II 96 (also II Zw 96) is a pair of galaxies that are merging. It is in the constellation Delphinus, about 500 million light-years from Earth.[1]
The shape of the merging galaxies is unusual; a number of powerful young starburst regions[3] hang as long, threadlike structures between the main galaxy cores. The system is relatively luminous, but has not yet reached the late stage of coalescence that is typical for most ultraluminous systems.[1]
The photograph is from a collection of 59 images of merging galaxies taken by the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope released on 24 April 2008, on the 18th anniversary of its 1990 launch.[1]
^ abcdeOfficial ESA Hubble site - Photo 59 Collection, NASA, ESA, the Hubble Heritage Team (STScI/AURA)-ESA/Hubble Collaboration and A. Evans (University of Virginia, Charlottesville/NRAO/Stony Brook University), April 24, 2008, archived from the original on July 4, 2008, retrieved 2008-07-18
^ abcdefghi"NASA/IPAC Extragalactic Database". Results for LEDA 65779. Retrieved 2008-07-18.
^Goldader, Jeffrey D.; Goldader, Deborah L.; Joseph, R. D.; Doyon, Rene; Sanders, D. B. (May 1997), "Heavily Obscured Star Formation in the II ZW 96 Galaxy Merger", Astronomical Journal, 113: 1569–1579, Bibcode:1997AJ....113.1569G, doi:10.1086/118374