NASA: Cosmic Delight: Penguins and Eggs in Space
NASA: Cosmic Delight: Penguins and Eggs in Space
NASA has treated space enthusiasts with a captivating photo showcasing two galaxies, positioned 23 million light years away from Earth. The American space agency shared this celestial snapshot on its Instagram account, describing one galaxy resembling a penguin and the other taking the shape of an egg.
In the caption, NASA explained, “Cosmic nut. These penguin- and egg-shaped galaxies were captured by our Spitzer and NASA Hubble Space Telescopes.” The post highlighted the unique characteristics of the galaxies, with the ‘Penguin’ being a spiral galaxy, displaying a blend of new stars and gas. On the other hand, the distribution of old stars gives the ‘Egg’ its distinctive shape.
Situated 10 times farther from Earth than the Andromeda Galaxy, these galaxies are currently affected by the gravitational pull of a neighbouring galaxy, causing them to appear bent and stretched. NASA predicted that, over time, gravity would draw these galaxies closer, leading to their eventual merger into one. The post has garnered over a million likes, with enthusiasts expressing awe and fascination in the comments.
