domingo, outubro 03, 2004

universo - out there


Clica na foto, para maior.

Par e galáxias em interligação. O Universo está lá fora... imune a nós. Totalmente. Nós é que não estamos nada imunes a ele, pertencemos a ele e nem temos bem a noção disso.

Follow the handle of the Big Dipper away from the dipper's bowl, until you get to the handle's last bright star. Then, just slide your telescope a little south and west and you'll likely find this stunning pair of interacting galaxies, the 51st entry in Charles Messier's famous catalog. Perhaps the original spiral nebula, the large galaxy with well defined spiral structure is also cataloged as NGC 5194. Its spiral arms and dust lanes clearly sweep in front of its companion galaxy (left), NGC 5195. The pair are about 37 million light-years distant and officially lie within the boundaries of the small constellation Canes Venatici.