Hubble telescope shares image of colliding galaxies

Feb. 2 (UPI) -- NASA released new images from the Hubble Space Telescope on Friday with rare images of two galaxies merging.

The telescope showed a blue compact galaxy called ESO185-IG013, which appears to be part of a galaxy collision because of its mix between young and older cluster of stars. Blue compact galaxies, of BGC, are nearby galaxies that show an intense burst of star formation.

NASA said that viewing ESO 185-IG013 in ultraviolet and infrared wavelengths shows details of two different galaxies.

"A larger number of star clusters are only 3.5 million years old -- relative infants compared to the timescale of our universe," NASA said. "The large number of young star clusters indicates that this galaxy was part of a recent galaxy collision and merger.

"The perturbed structure of the galaxy, which likely occurred from the violent interactions of gas and dust during the collision, is another sign. The merger supplied the system with lots of fuel for star formation, which continues to take place today."

NASA said the stars in the galaxy system have a total mass of more than seven billion suns and are about 260 million light-years away.

The space agency said a tidal shell can also be found in 185-IG013, which is a diffused glow surrounding its bright center. Scientists said that glow is another common clue that confirms that galaxies have merged.

The Hubble Space Telescope experienced problems with its gyroscope systems late last year before NASA came up with a workaround to get it out of safe mode and operating in good health again.