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Photographer:

Bruce

Location of Photo:

SkyPi Remote Observatory, New Mexico

Date/Time of photo:

5 nights in May 2022

Equipment:

12.5" Planewave telescope, QSI-690ws camera

Description:

This galaxy pair is known as Keenan’s system or Arp 104. NGC 5216 (left) and NGC 5218 (right) are connected by a bridge of galactic material spanning 22K light-years. This bridge was originally discovered by PC Keenan in 1935 but was lost in the shuffle until it was rediscovered by astronomers at Palomar and Lick observatories in 1958. The dynamics of the system have been well-studied and computer simulations can produce a striking resemblance at various points in the ongoing interaction between the two spiral galaxies.

Website:

https://www.coldphotons.com/zen_astro/astro_images/NGC5216_LRGB_Web.jpg