ESO 69-6
Pair of interacting galaxies in the constellation Triangulum Australe
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ESO 69-6 collectively known as AM 1633-682,[1] is a pair of interacting galaxies located 654 million light-years away in the constellation of Triangulum Australe.[1] They are made of two galaxies: ESO 069-IG 006N known as IRAS 16330-6820,[2] and ESO 069-IG 006S known as LEDA 285730.[3]
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| ESO 69-6 | |
|---|---|
Hubble Space Telescope image of ESO 69-6 | |
| Observation data (J2000 epoch) | |
| Constellation | Triangulum Australe |
| Right ascension | 16h 38m 13.1s |
| Declination | −68° 26′ 42.8″ |
| Redshift | 0.046439 |
| Heliocentric radial velocity | 14,082 km/s |
| Distance | 654 Mly (200.6 Mpc) |
| Apparent magnitude (V) | 16.16 |
| Characteristics | |
| Type | LIRG |
| Notable features | Interacting galaxies |
| Other designations | |
| ESO 069-IG 006, PGC 58663, AM 1633-682, 2MASX J16381190-6826080, IRAS 16330-6820, 2MASS J16381342-6827167, CXO J163813.4-682717 | |
Characteristics
Both galaxies are in stages of merging with each other.[4] They resemble musical notes on a stave.[5] Long tidal tails are formed, which stars and gas are stripped and torn away from their outer regions.[5][6] These tails are proven signs of their interactions.[5] Additionally numerical simulations that reproduces interaction-induced inflow of gas and resulting nuclear starbursts can, might trigger strong starbursts in both galaxies.[7]
It is proven from the gravitational interactions of ESO 69–6, the surrounding intergalactic medium can be enriched with metals very efficiently up to distances of several 100 kpc.[8] This can be explained in terms of indirect processes or direct processes that create kinetic spreading of baryonic matter.[8] Possibly, they will eventually merge with each other and form a much bigger galaxy, in this case an elliptical galaxy, in the future.[9][10]