Hubble Space Telescope’s Top 100 Images
Arp 273
I spend a lot of time browsing the Hubble archives getting lost in some of the most amazing images of objects in the universe. Did you know that the Hubble Space Telescope has a Top 100 Images List? Here you can find some of the best images that Hubble has ever brought to life.
The image presented above is the number 1 image in Hubble Space Telescope’s Top 100 Images. It’s two interacting galaxies that many believe looks like a cosmic rose.
These two galaxies are about 300 million light years away and can be found in the constellation Andromeda. They were cataloged by Halton Arp in 1966 and have been named Arp 273. Halton Arp’s catalog is called the Atlas of Peculiar Galaxies.
The two galaxies are actually both spiral galaxies. The galaxy at the top of the image is known as UGC 1810. The smaller galaxy, located at the bottom of the image is known as UGC 1813.
Take a close look at the image. See how the upper galaxy has been distorted by the interaction with the smaller galaxy. Dust lanes and spiral arms that should be symmetrical and parallel have been distorted into wobbly arcs reminiscent of a rose. Quite stunning!
More fantastic images can be found in Hubble’s Top 100 including the Orion Nebula, the Crab Nebula, one of my all time favorites – the Sombrero Galaxy, Mystic Mountain, and Stephan’s Quintet. Take a look, you won’t be disappointed.
IMAGE CREDIT: NASA, ESA, and the Hubble Heritage Team (STScl/AURA)
Beautifully stunning.
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I so agree Gary about the love God has for mankind, but what are they lniookg for i’ll tell ya aliens man, a reason why were here. Romans 1:18-20 clearly states why they do what they do, to make God more irrelvent in a world thats getting darker everyday. Space sceams im here im God, but man in his foolish wisdom presses on their quest to find some reason some other purpose besides God kinda really sad in my book. Not to meantion the countless dollars spent (or wasted) on that stuff. I mean there so much to be done here on earth. Thanks for sharing this with us.
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