Colliding galaxies NGC 2207 & IC 2163

Colliding galaxies NGC 2207 & IC 2163
The two galaxies, NGC 2207 to the right and the smaller one, IC 2163 to the left, are being distorted by their mutual gravitational forces.
Particularly the shape of IC 2163 have been affected with long streamers of young blue stars and gas extending 100,000 ly towards the left. The cores of the galaxies will orbit each other for another billion years, causing massive star formation in the density waves of the system. Eventually, billions of years from now the two galaxies will merge into one massive elliptical.

Technical details

OPTICS10" Newtonian f/5.2
MOUNTLosmandy G11 equatorial
CAMERAPhilips ToUCam Pro SC1 webcam
FILTERSNone
EXPOSURE68 x 60s
DATE/TIME28/02/2006 12:13 UTC
LOCATIONMy backyard observatory in west Auckland, New Zealand

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