Figure 4-29: R I V U X G
Tidal Forces on a Galaxy For millions of years the galaxies NGC 2207 and IC 2163 have been moving ponderously past each other. The larger galaxy’s tremendous tidal forces have drawn a streamer of material a hundred thousand light-years long out of IC 2163. If you lived on a planet orbiting a star within this streamer, you would have a magnificent view of both galaxies. NGC 2207 and IC 2163 are, respectively, 143,000 light-years and 101,000 light-years in diameter. Both galaxies are 114 million light-years away in the constellation Canis Major.
Tidal Forces on a Galaxy For millions of years the galaxies NGC 2207 and IC 2163 have been moving ponderously past each other. The larger galaxy’s tremendous tidal forces have drawn a streamer of material a hundred thousand light-years long out of IC 2163. If you lived on a planet orbiting a star within this streamer, you would have a magnificent view of both galaxies. NGC 2207 and IC 2163 are, respectively, 143,000 light-years and 101,000 light-years in diameter. Both galaxies are 114 million light-years away in the constellation Canis Major.
(NASA and the Hubble Heritage Team, AURA/STScI)