In
this stunning vista recorded with the Hubble Space Telescope's new
advanced camera, distant galaxies form a dramatic backdrop for disrupted spiral
galaxy Arp 188, the Tadpole Galaxy. The cosmic Tadpole is a mere 420 million light-years distant toward the
northern constellation
Draco. Its eye-catching tail is about 280 thousand light-years long and features massive, bright blue star clusters. One
story goes that a more compact intruder galaxy crossed in front
of Arp 188 - from left to right in this view - and was
slung around behind the Tadpole by their gravitational attraction. During the
close encounter, tidal forces drew out the
spiral galaxy's stars, gas, and dust forming the spectacular tail. The intruder galaxy itself, estimated to lie about 300 thousand light-years behind the Tadpole, can be seen through foreground spiral arms at the upper left.
Following its terrestrial
namesake, the Tadpole Galaxy will likely lose
its tail as it grows older, the tail's star clusters forming smaller satellites of the large spiral galaxy.
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