INTERSTELLAR FIRE.

By Nii B. Andrews.

Just last week NASA posted an awesome photograph depicting an active merger of two galaxies in deep space – 200 milion light years away from the Earth.

The image was captured by the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope. 

The merging galaxies are located in the southern constellation named Eridanus aka The River.

NGC 1614 COMPLEX: Hubble Space Telescope photo NASA/ESA, 2020.

The whole cataclysmic collision complex has been designated NGC 1614 and its peculiar characteristic is the tidal tail resulting from the turbulent flow of interstellar gas arising from the collision.

With the core of the smaller galaxy merging into the centre of the larger one, new stars are created – and perhaps new solar systems, perhaps new elements and possibly new life forms.

The NGC 1614 complex is the second most luminous galaxy within 250 million light years of the Earth.

UNTITLED: Anane Asare, acrylic on canvas, 110 x 110 cm, 1999. Private collection, purchased from the artist.

Our galaxy, the Milky Way, and the Andromeda galaxy, are caught in each other’s gravitational pull and will eventually merge together.

But the vast majority of galaxies in our universe appear to be moving away from each other. 

This phenomenon is due to the expansion of the universe, and it is the space between galaxies that is stretching, rather than the galaxies themselves moving.

Now, if all of this does not help us place within context the unconvincing darkness, shenanigans and pettiness of……well, never mind……

Can any one of us suggest a title for the Anane Asare painting shown above?

Do have a great day, folks.

5 thoughts on “INTERSTELLAR FIRE.”

  1. I thought of the name “River Galaxies” for the painting , because to me it resembles the 2 merging galaxies.

  2. Galactic effusions seems to be a nice name for the painting. Good morning my breda.

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