Hubble image archive

Hubble Interacting Galaxy IC 2545

Date: Jan 1, 2008
Mission: Hubble Space Telescope
Archive ID: hubblesite-images-2008-16-2298-image

By Kakha Giorgashvili January 1, 2008

IC 2545 is a beautiful, but deceptive object that appears to be a single S-shaped galaxy, but is actually a pair of merging galaxies. The two cores of the parent galaxies are still visible in the central region. Other telltale markers for the collision include two pronounced tidal arms of gas and stars flung out from the central region. The tidal arm curving upwards and clockwise in the image contains a number of blue star clusters. IC 2545 glows strongly in the infrared part of the spectrum - another sign that it is a pair of merging galaxies. It lies in the constellation of Antlia, the Air Pump, some 450 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	IC 2545, AM 1003-333
Object Description	Interacting Galaxies
R.A. Position	10h 6m 5.04s
Dec. Position	-33° 53' 14.79"
Constellation	Antlia
Distance	450 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 5, 2001, Exposure Time: 34 minutes
Filters	F435W (B) and F814W (I)