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                           Astronomy Picture of the Day   
      
       Discover the cosmos! Each day a different image or photograph of our   
         fascinating universe is featured, along with a brief explanation   
                       written by a professional astronomer.   
      
                                   2024 March 20   
        Two large galaxies are pictured. On the left is a distorted spiral   
        galaxy, while on the right is a relatively featureless yellow disk   
        galaxy. Together, these galaxies may look, to some, like a pair of   
          eyes. Please see the explanation for more detailed information.   
      
                       The Eyes in Markarian's Galaxy Chain   
                       Image Credit & Copyright: Mike Selby   
      
      Explanation: Across the heart of the Virgo Galaxy Cluster lies a string   
      of galaxies known as Markarian's Chain. Prominent in Markarian's Chain   
      are these two interacting galaxies, NGC 4438 (left) and NGC 4435 - also   
      known as The Eyes. About 50 million light-years away, the two galaxies   
      appear to be about 100,000 light-years apart in this sharp close-up,   
      but have likely approached to within an estimated 16,000 light-years of   
      each other in their cosmic past. Gravitational tides from the close   
      encounter have ripped away at their stars, gas, and dust. The more   
      massive NGC 4438 managed to hold on to much of the material torn out in   
      the collision, while material from the smaller NGC 4435 was more easily   
      lost. The remarkably deep image of this crowded region of the universe   
      also includes many more distant background galaxies.   
      
                        Tomorrow's picture: three galaxies   
        __________________________________________________________________   
      
          Authors & editors: Robert Nemiroff (MTU) & Jerry Bonnell (UMCP)   
               NASA Official: Amber Straughn Specific rights apply.   
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                                & Michigan Tech. U.   
      
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