NGC 7252

NGC 7252
Hubble Space Telescope (HST) image of NGC 7252
Observation data (J2000 epoch)
ConstellationAquarius
Right ascension22h 20m 44.8s
Declination−24° 40 42
Redshift4792 ± 1 km/s
Distance220 million light years
Apparent magnitude (V)12.7
Characteristics
Type(R)SA(r)0
Apparent size (V)1′.9 × 1′.6
Other designations
PGC 68612, Arp 226, Atoms for Peace Galaxy

NGC 7252 is a peculiar galaxy resulting from an interaction between two galaxies that started a billion years ago. It is located 220 million light years away in the constellation Aquarius. It is also called Atoms for Peace Galaxy, a nickname which comes from its loop-like structure, made of stars, that resembles a classic diagram of an electron orbiting an atomic nucleus.