Â鶹´«Ã½

Skip to main content

Hubble captures stunning image of squabbling galaxies

Share

A galactic sibling rivalry is taking place millions of light-years away, and the Hubble Space Telescope has captured it in a stunning image.

About 747 million light-years from Earth, a triplet of galaxies is locked in a gravitational tug-of-war that was spied by Hubble as it observed them interacting in the Lynx constellation.

This unique system of galaxies, which is referred to as Arp 195, was featured in the . The atlas is a catalog of unusual galaxies across the universe that was compiled and published by astronomer Halton Arp in 1966.

Many of the weirdly wonderful galaxies showcased within the atlas are interacting and merging, like Arp 195.

However, Hubble was able to provide an awe-inspiring new look at this galactic trio, including its signature swirl and oblong streak -- which somewhat resembles a bubble releasing from a bubble wand.

The storied space telescope has a busy observation schedule, so astronomers don't waste any of its precious time -- especially since Hubble has already endured for 31 years and is still going strong, despite for more than a month.

Occasionally, Hubble is able to take bonus images -- like the image of Arp 195 -- in between long observation campaigns.

While these extra observations of distinct features in the universe provide beautiful imagery, they can also help astronomers select targets they wish to follow up on using new, upcoming observers, like NASA's James Webb Space Telescope, scheduled to launch in October.

CTVNews.ca Top Stories

Timmins-James Bay MP Charlie Angus was among approximately 120 people who gathered Sunday night for a candlelight vigil near the scene of a vicious attack against a 16-year-old in Cobalt.

A Brampton woman says she is devastated after she lost more than $200,000 — her life's savings — to a romance scam.

As Toronto readies for Taylor Swift’s arrival this week, some crowd management and planning experts say additional safety precautions should be taken when tens of thousands of fans fill the city's downtown core on show nights.

Local Spotlight

For the second year in a row, the ‘Gift-a-Family’ campaign is hoping to make the holidays happier for children and families in need throughout Barrie.

Some of the most prolific photographers behind CTV Skywatch Pics of the Day use the medium for fun, therapy, and connection.

A young family from Codroy Valley, N.L., is happy to be on land and resting with their newborn daughter, Miley, after an overwhelming, yet exciting experience at sea.

As Connor Nijsse prepared to remove some old drywall during his garage renovation, he feared the worst.

A group of women in Chester, N.S., has been busy on the weekends making quilts – not for themselves, but for those in need.

A Vancouver artist whose streetside singing led to a chance encounter with one of the world's biggest musicians is encouraging aspiring performers to try their hand at busking.

Ten-thousand hand-knit poppies were taken from the Sanctuary Arts Centre and displayed on the fence surrounding the Dartmouth Cenotaph on Monday.

A Vancouver man is saying goodbye to his nine-to-five and embarking on a road trip from the Canadian Arctic to Antarctica.