Image: Hubble Interacting Galaxy Mrk 273 (2008-04-24)

Description: Markarian 273 is a galaxy with a bizarre structure that somewhat resembles a toothbrush. The Hubble image shows an intricate central region and a striking tail that extends diagonally towards the bottom-right of the image. The tail is about 130 thousand light-years long and is strongly indicative of a merger between two galaxies. Markarian 273 has an intense region of starburst, where 60 solar masses of new stars are born each year. Near-infrared observations reveal a nucleus with two components. Markarian 273 is one of the most luminous galaxies when observed in the infrared, and is located 500 million light-years away from Earth. This image is part of a large collection of 59 images of merging galaxies taken by the Hubble Space Telescope and released on the occasion of its 18th anniversary on 24th April 2008.

About the object

Object name

Mrk 273, UGC 8696, I Zw 071

Object description

Interacting Galaxies

Position (J2000)

13 44 42.29+55 53 10.5

Constellation

Ursa Major

Distance

500 million light-years (150 million parsecs)

About the data

Data description

The Hubble image was created using HST data from proposal 10592: A. Evans (University of Virginia, Charlottesville/NRAO/Stony Brook University)

Instrument

ACS/WFC

Exposure date(s)

November 16, 2001

Exposure time

37 minutes

Filters

F435W (B) and F814W (I)
Usage Terms: Public domain