                        Astronomy Picture of the Day

    Discover the cosmos! Each day a different image or photograph of our
      fascinating universe is featured, along with a brief explanation
                    written by a professional astronomer.

                                2024 July 15
    A spiral galaxy is shown on the upper left with a really long tail of
    stars and blue-glowing gas trailing to the lower left. Please see the
                 explanation for more detailed information.

                       The Tadpole Galaxy from Hubble
         Image Credit: Hubble Legacy Archive, ESA, NASA; Processing:
                             Harshwardhan Pathak

   Explanation: Why does this galaxy have such a long tail? In this
   stunning vista, based on image data from the Hubble Legacy Archive,
   distant galaxies form a dramatic backdrop for disrupted spiral galaxy
   Arp 188, the Tadpole Galaxy. The cosmic tadpole is a mere 420 million
   light-years distant toward the northern constellation of the Dragon
   (Draco). Its eye-catching tail is about 280 thousand light-years long
   and features massive, bright blue star clusters. One story goes that a
   more compact intruder galaxy crossed in front of Arp 188 - from right
   to left in this view - and was slung around behind the Tadpole by their
   gravitational attraction. During the close encounter, tidal forces drew
   out the spiral galaxy's stars, gas, and dust forming the spectacular
   tail. The intruder galaxy itself, estimated to lie about 300 thousand
   light-years behind the Tadpole, can be seen through foreground spiral
   arms at the upper right. Following its terrestrial namesake, the
   Tadpole Galaxy will likely lose its tail as it grows older, the tail's
   star clusters forming smaller satellites of the large spiral galaxy.

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       Authors & editors: Robert Nemiroff (MTU) & Jerry Bonnell (UMCP)
            NASA Official: Amber Straughn Specific rights apply.
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                             & Michigan Tech. U.

