Evolution of a Compact Group of Galaxies

Simulation and Visualization by Joshua Barnes, University of Hawaii

Simulation and Visualization Details

• A group of six galaxies orbits one another, colliding and merging.
• Over an interval of ~4 Gyr the group is transformed from a group of six distinct spirals into a single elliptical galaxy. Two pairs of galaxies merge early in the calculation, and the larger remnant takes up residence at the center of the group. Later the remaining spirals merge in a multiple-galaxy encounter.
• Color represents galactic components: red for dark matter, blue for disk stars, yellow for bulge stars.
• 128K-particle N-body simulation.

Image

Movie

Evolution of a Compact Group of Galaxies MPEG movie 2049 frames 512 x 386 resolution 9.9 MB download

Copyright & Credits

All usage must be cleared with the respective authors, as listed in the credits. This includes posting on other web sites and any other electronic, print, or media distribution.

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