Description:
NGC 4038 is a peculiar galaxy that forms one-half of the interacting galaxy pair known as the Antennae Galaxies (NGC 4038 and NGC 4039). These galaxies, located approximately 60 million light-years away in the constellation Corvus, are in the midst of a dramatic collision, making them one of the most studied examples of galactic mergers.
NGC 4038 and NGC 4039 began colliding hundreds of millions of years ago. Their interaction has led to massive tidal tails that resemble insect antennae, giving the system its nickname. The intense gravitational forces from the collision have triggered rapid star formation, making the Antennae Galaxies a rich field for studying starbursts and the formation of young, massive star clusters.
As the interaction continues, NGC 4038 and NGC 4039 will eventually merge into a single elliptical galaxy over the next few hundred million years. This process mirrors what will likely happen to the Milky Way and Andromeda Galaxy in about 4–5 billion years.
