The Condor Galaxy is a large barred spiral galaxy located 212 million light-years away in the southern constellation
Pavo (the Peacock). It is listed as NGC 6872 in the New General Catalogue. The galaxy has an apparent magnitude of 10.69 and is in the process of interacting with its smaller neighbour, the lenticular galaxy IC 4970.The Condor Galaxy stretches over 522,000 light-years across – more than five times the size of the Milky Way – and is one of the largest known spiral galaxies. It has an isophotal diameter of more than 717,000 light-years. The galaxy’s stellar bar has a radius of about 26,000 light-years, which is around twice the average length found in barred spiral galaxies. The giant galaxy contains anywhere between 500 billion to 2 trillion stars.
As a result of its interaction with IC 4970, NGC 6872 has the distinctive shape of the integral sign. The elongated shape was slowly produced after the smaller galaxy made its closest approach around 130 million years ago. Simulations have
shown that IC 4970 approached the Condor Galaxy almost along the plane of its spiral disk. The interaction distorted the larger galaxy’s shape and stretched out its spiral arms.
interaction with IC 4970, NGC 6872
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