JPL
Careers
Education
Science & Technology
JPL Logo
JPL Logo
Image

Galactic Train Wrecks

May 25, 2011
This montage combines observations from NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope and NASA's Galaxy Evolution Explorer (GALEX) spacecraft showing three examples of colliding galaxies from a new photo atlas of galactic 'train wrecks.'

3-Panel Poster for PIA14097
3-Panel Poster

click here for larger view of NGC 470 and NGC 474click here for larger view of NGC 3448 and UGC 6016click here for larger view of NGC 935 and IC 1801
NGC 470 and NGC 474NGC 3448 and UGC 6016NGC 935 and IC 1801
Click on individual image for larger view

This montage shows three examples of colliding galaxies from a new photo atlas of galactic "train wrecks." The new images combine observations from NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope, which observes infrared light, and NASA's Galaxy Evolution Explorer (GALEX) spacecraft, which observes ultraviolet light. By analyzing information from different parts of the light spectrum, scientists can learn much more than from a single wavelength alone, because different components of a galaxy are highlighted.

The panel at far left shows NGC 470 (top) and NGC 474 (bottom); at top right are NGC 3448 and UGC 6016; at bottom right are NGC 935 and IC 1801. In this representative-color image, far-ultraviolet light from GALEX is blue, 3.6-micron light from Spitzer is cyan, 4.5-micron light from Spitzer is green, and red shows light at 5.8 and 8 microns from Spitzer.

Download JPG
Download TIFF
Mission
Spacecraft
  • GALEX Orbiter
Instrument
  • Ultraviolet/Visible Camera
  • Infrared Array Camera (IRAC)
Credit
NASA/JPL-Caltech/Harvard-Smithsonian CfA

Keep Exploring

Geometry of the Blue Ring Nebula (Animation)

The Blue Ring Nebula

Flaring Red Dwarf Star (Illustration)

Pulsar Candidate in Andromeda

Frankenstein Galaxy

Andromeda in High-Energy X-rays

After the Explosion: Investigating Supernova Sites

Galaxies Grow from Inside Out

Big Brother to the Milky Way

Ultraviolet Ring of Stars

Related Topics

Mission .

SPHEREx

News .

NASA’s Chandra, Webb Telescopes Combine for Arresting Views

News .

NASA’s Spitzer, TESS Find Potentially Volcano-Covered Earth-Size World

News .

NASA’s Webb Takes Closest Look Yet at Mysterious Planet

News .

Caught in the Act: Astronomers Detect a Star Devouring a Planet

Video .

What's Up - May 2023

News .

NASA’s Voyager Will Do More Science With New Power Strategy

Mission .

The Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope

News .

NASA Study Helps Explain Limit-Breaking Ultra-Luminous X-Ray Sources

Video .

What's Up - April 2023

About JPL
Who We Are
Executive Council
Directors
Careers
Internships
The JPL Story
JPL Achievements
Documentary Series
Annual Reports
Missions
Current
Past
Future
All
News
All
Earth
Solar System
Stars and Galaxies
Subscribe to JPL News
Galleries
Images
Videos
Audio
Podcasts
Apps
Visions of the Future
Slice of History
Robotics at JPL
Events
Lecture Series
Team Competitions
Speakers Bureau
Calendar
Visit
Public Tours
Virtual Tour
Directions and Maps
Topics
JPL Life
Solar System
Mars
Earth
Climate Change
Exoplanets
Stars and Galaxies
Robotics
More
Asteroid Watch
NASA's Eyes Visualizations
Universe - Internal Newsletter
Social Media
Get the Latest from JPL
Follow Us

JPL is a federally funded research and development center managed for NASA by Caltech.

More from JPL
Careers Education Science & Technology Acquisitions JPL Store
Careers
Education
Science & Technology
Acquisitions
JPL Store
Related NASA Sites
Basics of Spaceflight
Climate Kids
Earth / Global Climate Change
Exoplanet Exploration
Mars Exploration
Solar System Exploration
Space Place
NASA's Eyes Visualization Project
Voyager Interstellar Mission
NASA
Caltech
Privacy
Image Policy
FAQ
Feedback
Site Managers: Veronica McGregor, Randal Jackson
Site Editors: Tony Greicius, Naomi Hartono
CL#: 21-0018