ZW II 96

Infobox Galaxy
name = ZW II 96


caption = Galaxy Interaction (ZW II 96)
epoch = J2000
type = cite web
title=NASA/IPAC Extragalactic Database
work=Results for LEDA 65779
url=http://nedwww.ipac.caltech.edu/
accessdate=2008-07-18]
ra = RA|20|57|23.9
dec = DEC|+17|07|39
dist_ly = 0.5 Gly
z = 10822 ± 10 km/s
appmag_v = 15.2
size_v = 0'.2
constellation name = Delphinus
notes = H II region
names = II Zw 096, PGC 65779

The object ZW II 96 (also "II Zw 96") is a pair of galaxies that are currently merging together.

The shape of the merging galaxies is unusual; a number of powerful young starburst regionscitation
url = http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/1997AJ....113.1569G
title = Heavily Obscured Star Formation in the II ZW 96 Galaxy Merger
authors = Goldader, Jeffrey D.; Goldader, Deborah L.; Joseph, R. D.; Doyon, Rene; Sanders, D. B.
year = 1997
date = May 1997
journal = Astronomical Journal
volume = 113
pages = 1569–1579
doi = 10.1086/118374] hang as long, threadlike structures between the main galaxy cores. The system almost qualifies as an ultraluminous system, but has not yet reached the late stage of coalescence that is the norm for most ultraluminous systems.citation
url = http://www.spacetelescope.org/images/html/heic0810bk.html
title = Official ESA Hubble site - Photo 59 Collection
accessdate = 2008-07-18
publisher = NASA, ESA, the Hubble Heritage Team (STScI/AURA)-ESA/Hubble Collaboration and A. Evans (University of Virginia, Charlottesville/NRAO/Stony Brook University)
year = 2008
date = April 24 2008]

Zw II 96 is located in the constellation of Delphinus, the Dolphin, about 500 million light-years away from Earth.

The photograph is one of a collection of 59 images of merging galaxies taken by the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope. This collection of images was released on the occasion of the 18th anniversary of Hubble's launch on 24th April 2008.

References