Hubble image archive

Hubble Interacting Galaxy VV 705

Date: Jan 1, 2008
Mission: Hubble Space Telescope
Archive ID: hubblesite-images-2008-16-2300-image

By Kakha Giorgashvili January 1, 2008

VV 705, or Markarian 848, consists of two galaxies that seem to be embracing each other. Two long, highly curved arms of gas and stars emerge from a central region with two cores. One arm, curving clockwise, stretches to the top of the image where it makes a U-turn and interlocks with the other arm that curves up counter-clockwise from below. The two cores are 16,000 light-years apart. The pair is thought to be midway through a merger. Markarian 848 is located in the constellation of Bootes, the Bear Watcher, and is approximately 550 million light-years away from Earth.

This image is part of a large collection of 59 images of merging galaxies taken by the Hubble Space Telescope and released on the occasion of its 18th anniversary on 24th April 2008.

Credits

NASA, ESA, the Hubble Heritage (STScI/AURA)-ESA/Hubble Collaboration, and A. Evans (University of Virginia, Charlottesville/NRAO/Stony Brook University)

Image Details

About The Object
Object Name	VV 705, Mrk 848, I Zw 107
Object Description	Interacting Galaxies
R.A. Position	15h 18m 6.34s
Dec. Position	42° 44' 34.0"
Constellation	Boötes
Distance	550 million light-years (150 million parsecs)
About The Data
Data Description	HST Proposal: A. Evans (University of Virginia, Charlottesville/NRAO/Stony Brook University)
Instrument	HST>ACS/WFC
Exposure Dates	November 13, 2001, Exposure Time: 35 minutes
Filters	F435W (B) and F814W (I)