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David

Darling

head-tail galaxy

Head-tail galaxy in the galaxy cluster IIZW108.

Head-tail galaxy in the galaxy cluster IIZW108.


A head-tail galaxy is a radio galaxy whose emission has been distorted by the movement of the parent galaxy, a giant elliptical, through the intracluster medium. The result is strong radio emission coming from a bright "head" and more diffuse emission from a diffuse "tail" that stretches behind for hundreds of thousands of light-years.