At over 500,000 light years across, NGC 6872 in Pavo is one of the largest known spiral galaxies. Discovered by John Herschel in 1835, The Condor is approx. 5,000,000,000 years old and 212,000,000 light-years from Earth. The explanation for the unusual, elongated morphology of this SB(s)b pec spiral galaxy is strong interaction with the lenticular, IC 4970 galaxy directly below it. There also exists a ~300,000 light-year long X-ray trail between The Condor and NGC 6876, the bright elliptical galaxy at 10 o'clock. This stream suggests that the two passed closer to each other in the distant past. Note the other interestingly shaped galaxies throughout the field. Many thanks go out to my collaborator and friend,
Mike Selbywho acquired and calibrated this fine data.
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