One of the few successfully captured dialogues between two powerful space objects, behind which are the fundamental gravitational forces of the universe. Here, unlike most typical deep sky shots, Hubble managed to capture a dynamic image with a real sense of three-dimensionality.

It shows Arp 282, an interacting pair of galaxies, consisting of lower NGC 169 and upper IC 1559. Interestingly, they both have active nuclei (AGNs), although, fortunately, this is difficult to determine from the image. If it fully revealed the radiation of the nuclei, then their brightness would overshadow the beautifully detailed interaction process.

When the powerful gravity of one object causes another to be distorted or stretched, this effect is called tidal forces, or in the case of galaxies, a galactic tide. Tidal forces are directed from a less massive object to a more massive one. When two galaxies interact in this way, gas, dust, and even entire star systems can move from one to the other. In this picture, we observe this process in the form of graceful flows of matter connecting these two beautiful cosmic creations.

Modern scientists accept the fact that an important aspect of the development of galaxies is their interaction with each other. They can merge, collide or rush side - each such meeting significantly affects their shape and structure. True, despite the apparent prevalence of this phenomenon, it is very rare to capture such dynamic shots of the meeting of two galaxies.

Watching such views, you understand what a huge and mysterious world we are part of. But after about four billion years, our Milky Way will also have to collide with Andromeda flying towards it, although the earthlings, if they still exist, will not find it enough then.

The publication is based on the news: Image: Hubble views a cosmic interaction

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