| Optics: |
RC Optical System 20" F/8.2 (4165.6 mm Focal Length) |
Date: |
Nov-December 2008 |
| Camera: |
SBIG ST10XME with Adaptive Optics |
Location: |
Columbus, Texas |
| Exposure: |
LRGB = 200:80:80:100 minutes |
Imager: |
Kent E. Biggs |
This group of galaxies is likely in the process of merging. NGC
7771 (upper right) is interacting with 2 other visible galaxies.
They will likely merge to form an even larger galaxy. It is also
probable that NGC 7771 will eventually merge with NGC 7769
(lower left) to form a super galaxy of perhaps as many as a
trillion stars. It may be surprising that even with all these
billions stars merging into one galaxy, likely few if any stars
will actually collide with each other due to the vast emptiness
of space. Galactic mergers often cause star formation indicated
by the red regions. Blue regions are hot young stars that have
already formed. Below is the original black and white (luminance
image) for comparison showing the dust regions over processed to
show the amount of material that exists around these galaxies.