12.23.07
Tinker Bell in the sky
A rare case of a triple merger of galaxies bears a resemblance with J.M.Barrie’s Tinker Bell.
Through near-infrared VLT (Very Large Telescope) observations it was possible to identify the triple merger nature of the galaxy known as ESO 593-IG 008 (or IRAS 19115-2124). It was previously merely known as an interacting pair of galaxies at a distance of 650 million light-years.
The object was dubbed “The Bird”, but it also bears a resemblance with the fairy Tinker Bell from James Matthew Barrie’s novel Peter Pan.
The “wings” itself extend more than 100,000 light years, the size of our own galaxy, the Milky Way.
