The Hubble team has released a beautiful image of two small, interacting galaxies: NGC 5410 (larger galaxy) and LEDA 49896.
The NGC 5410-LEDA 49896 galaxy pair resides approximately 171 million light-years in the constellation of Canes Venatici and can be seen from the northern hemisphere.
NGC 5410 is classified as a spiral galaxy while LEDA 49896 is an irregular galaxy.
“Between the two galaxies lies a stream of stars, almost like a bridge, caused by their interaction,” the Hubble astronomers said.
“Hubble imaged this galaxy in 2023 to examine if interactions between dwarf galaxies create reservoirs of particles that fuel star formation.”
Also known as LEDA 49893, ECO 4436 or IRAS 13588+4113, NGC 5410 was discovered by the German-born British astronomer William Herschel on April 9, 1787.
“NGC 5410 spans 80,000 light-years across and has a bright white bar of stars at its center,” the astronomers said.
“It is also a spiral galaxy with a medium-sized nucleus and spread-out arms.”
“NGC 5410 contains many young, blue star clusters, especially along its arms.”
LEDA 49896, also known as UGC 8932 or ECO 4439, has a diameter of 60,000 light-years.
“LEDA 49896 has a bright blue bar of stars at its core, indicating that it contains younger stars,” the researchers said.
“Its shape is irregular, likely due to distortions from NGC 5410’s gravitational pull.”
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