Chandra Release - August 5, 2010

Visual Description: The Antennae Galaxies

This image features the Antennae Galaxies, which are two colliding galaxies in the process of merging.   The dominant colors in the image are shades of blue, red and the palest gold on a black backdrop.   The main structure of the Antennae Galaxies consists of a partial “S” shape, or a curled-up snake, filling most of the screen.   The X-ray view provides a unique perspective on the galaxy, highlighting the intense heat and energy generated by the collision between the two galaxies. The Antennae galaxies, located about 62 million light years from Earth, are shown in this composite image from the Chandra X-ray Observatory (blue), the Hubble Space Telescope (pale gold-brown), and the Spitzer Space Telescope (red). The Antennae galaxies take their name from the long antenna-like "arms," seen in wide-angle views of the system. These features were produced by tidal forces generated in the collision.