galaxy merger
-

Active Galaxies Demystified
Active galaxies are, without a doubt, absolutely spectacular. Though rare, they tell a critical part of the story of galaxies — and of the universe as a whole. And we’ve spent the last few posts exploring them in depth. But…
-

A Full Story of Galactic Evolution
Over the course of the last few posts, we’ve explored different types of active galactic nuclei: Seyfert galaxies, double-lobed radio sources, and quasars. At the heart of each of these galaxies lies a supermassive black hole, feeding off an energy…
-

Why Galactic Nuclei Erupt
Astronomers know that when galaxies’ nuclei become active — releasing tremendous floods of energy — supermassive black holes are the ultimate culprit. We also know that supermassive black holes lurk at the hearts of most large galaxies. But most galaxies…
-

When Galaxies Collide
Meet the Whirlpool Galaxy, a spiral galaxy in the constellation Canes Venatici. This was actually the first galaxy to be classified as a spiral. Specifically, the Whirlpool Galaxy is what we call a grand-design spiral: a galaxy with a very…



