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Hubble Interacting Galaxy NGC 17
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Name: NGC 17, (NGC 34)
Description: Interacting Galaxies
Position (J2000): RA 00hr 11m 06.68s Dec -12° 06' 24.6"
Constellation: Cetus
Apparent dimensions: 2'.2 × 0'.8
Visual magnitude: 15.3
Distance: 250 million light-years (100 million parsecs)
Instrument: ACS/WFC
Exposure Date(s): July 4, 2002
Exposure Time: 33 minutes)
Image Credit: NASA, ESA, the Hubble Heritage (STScI/AURA)-ESA/Hubble Collaboration, and A. Evans (U of Virginia, Charlottesville/NRAO/Stony Brook Univ)
Release Date: April 24, 2008
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ABOUT THIS IMAGE:

This galaxy features a single nucleus, containing a blue central disk with delicate fine structure in the outer parts, and tidal tails indicative of two former disk galaxies. At present these galaxies appear to have completed their merger. The remnant shows clear signs that the merger was gas-rich and accompanied by a starburst. NGC 17 is gas-rich and can sustain its strong central starburst and present mild central activity for some time to come. NGC 17 is located about 250 million light-years away in the constellation of Cetus, the Whale. It was discovered by Lewis Swift on November 21, 1886 and later renamed NGC 34.

This image is part of a large collection of 59 images of merging galaxies taken by the Hubble Space Telescope and released on the occasion of its 18th anniversary on 24th April 2008.