Video chat with astronomer Lauranne Lanz. Ask questions about her research about galaxy jets, what it’s like to be an astronomer, or anything else that interests you. Lauranne Lanz is an astronomer at the California Institute of Technology.
This program has been moved to the Explore the Universe gallery. Check @SIObservatory for updates or call (202) 633-2517.
Accessibility: The Observatory dome is accessible.
According to NASA, "IC 4687 forms a triplet with two other galaxies: IC 4686 to the right and IC 4689 further to the right. IC 4687 has a chaotic body of stars, gas and dust and a large curly tail to the left. The two companions are partially obscured by dark bands of dust. The interacting triplet is about 250 million light-years away from Earth, in the constellation of Pavo, the Peacock.
This image is part of a large collection of 59 images of merging galaxies taken by the Hubble Space Telescope and released on the occasion of its 18th anniversary on 24th April 2008."