NGC 2207 and IC 2163

NGC 2207 and IC 2163 are a pair of spiral galaxies about 144 million light-years away in the constellation Canis Major. Both galaxies were discovered by John Herschel in 1835. So far three supernovae have been observed in NGC 2207 (SN 1975A, SN 1999ec and SN 2003H). NGC 2207 is in the process of tidal stripping IC 2163.

In November 1999, the Hubble Space Telescope took a look at these galaxies.

In April 2006, the Spitzer Space Telescope also took a look at these galaxies (Picture seen below).

An infrared Spitzer Space Telescope image of NGC 2207 and IC 2163. Credit: NASA/JPL.

Merging galaxies

NGC 2207 is in the process of colliding and merging with IC 2163. But unlike the Antennae or the Mice Galaxies; they're still two separate spiral galaxies. They are only in the first step of colliding and merging. Soon they will collide looking a bit more like the Mice. In about a billion years time they will merge and become an elliptical galaxy.

See also

• Antennae Galaxies
• Mice Galaxies
• Arp 299

External links

• SIMBAD: NGC 2207
• SIMBAD: IC 2163
• HST: A grazing encounter between two spiral galaxies
• APOD: Spiral Galaxies in Collision (11/9/1999)
• NGC 2207/IC 2163
• NGC 2207 at ESA/Hubble
• Spitzer Space Telescope page on NGC 2207 and IC 2163