Hungry, hungry galaxies!
This #hubblefriday view of the galaxy NGC 5238 seems serene, but its cosmic history shows that it likely once devoured a smaller galaxy.
Astronomers can use Hubble's excellent resolution to study the galaxy's stars. One tell-tale sign of a previous galactic merger is the presence of groups of stars that contain different properties from most of NGC 5238's other stars.
Another sign would be a burst of star formation that happened at about the same time the two galaxies merged. The Hubble data used for this image will help scientists more accurately unpack NGC 5238's past.
Image credit: ESA/Hubble & NASA, F. Annibali
#nasa #hubble #friday #galaxy #space #science #astronomy #universe #cosmos
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