Astronomers have used the Hubble Space Telescope and the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) to capture stunning images of a galaxy in the throes of a cosmic collision. The galaxy, known as IC 1613, is located about 200 million light-years from Earth in the constellation Hercules.
IC 1613 is the result of the head-on collision of two spiral galaxies. The galaxies collided at high speed, sending shockwaves through their disks and triggering bursts of star formation. The collision has also warped and distorted the galaxies' shapes, creating a spectacular trainwreck of gas, dust, and stars.
The new images of IC 1613 provide astronomers with a unique opportunity to study the process of galaxy mergers. By studying the gas and dust in the galaxy, astronomers can learn how stars are born and how galaxies evolve.
"These images are the most detailed ever taken of IC 1613," said Alison Crocker, an astronomer at the University of Oxford and lead author of the new study. "They allow us to see the galaxy in exquisite detail, from the dusty arms of the spiral galaxies to the bright knots of star formation."
The Hubble Space Telescope captured the visible light image of IC 1613. The ALMA telescope captured the millimeter-wavelength emission from the galaxy's cold gas and dust. By combining the data from the two telescopes, astronomers were able to create a more complete picture of the galaxy.
The new images of IC 1613 are helping astronomers to understand how galaxies evolve. Galaxy mergers are common events in the universe, and they play a major role in the formation and evolution of galaxies. By studying IC 1613, astronomers can learn more about the process of galaxy mergers and how they shape the universe.
"The images of IC 1613 are a reminder of the violence that can occur in the universe," said Crocker. "But they are also a reminder of the beauty that can emerge from chaos."
The new study was published in the Astrophysical Journal.