,
What makes this spiral galaxy so long? Measuring over 700,000 light years across from top to bottom, NGC 6872, also known as the Condor galaxy, is one of the most elongated barred spiral galaxies known. The galaxy's protracted shape likely results from its continuingcollision with the smaller galaxy IC 4970, visible just above center. Of particular interest is NGC 6872's spiral arm on the upper left, as pictured here, which exhibits an unusually high amount of blue star forming regions. The light we see today left these colliding giants before the days of the dinosaurs, about 300 million years ago. NGC 6872 is visible with a small telescope toward the constellation of the Peacock (Pavo).
8.2-meter VLT Antu, ESO;
Source: http://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap160426.html
Copying/Pasting full articles that are copyrighted is frowned upon by the community as it adds no original content and no value.
Letting users assume that the content posted is your own work, or stating it is your work when it is not is plagiarism.
If you want to share a news story, simply link to the source, and include your original commentary, and possibly small quotes from the source. Copy paste is discouraged by the community, and may result in action from the cheetah bot.
Creative Commons: If you are reposting under a Creative Commons license, please attribute and link according to the specific license. If you are reposting under CC0 please consider noting that at the end of your post.
If you are actually the original author, please do reply to let us know!
NASA work is not under copyright.
here is an alternate explanation: http://starburstfound.org/galactic-superwaves/