A tangled group of interacting galaxies

The NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope continues to fascinate us with mesmerizing views from space. One such captivating spectacle captured by the veteran telescope is a tangled group of interacting galaxies called LEDA 60847.

Galaxy mergers are frequent events that play a key role in shaping cosmic landscapes. Our Milky Way galaxy is also believed to be the product of past mergers. Astronomers believe somewhere between 5% and 25% of all galaxies are currently merging.

LEDA 60847 is an active galactic nucleus (AGN) - a compact and extremely energetic region at the center of a galaxy which often hosts a supermassive black hole. The AGN emits radiation across the entire electromagnetic spectrum and shines extremely brightly. Astronomers study powerful AGNs, particularly those that are nearby, to better understand how supermassive black holes grow and affect galaxies.

Hubble operates in the visible, ultraviolet and near-infrared regions of the electromagnetic spectrum. This image of LEDA 60847 combines all three wavelengths.

Each type of light provides astronomers with valuable information about different aspects of our universe For instance, UV light traces the glow of stellar nurseries and is used to identify the hottest stars while visible light shows us moderate-temperature stars and material, and also how the view would appear to our own eyes. The near-infrared light can penetrate cold dust, allowing astronomers to study warm gas and dust, and relatively cool stars.