Credit: X-ray: NASA/CXC/SAO/S.Mineo et al, Optical: NASA/STScI, Infrared: NASA/JPL-Caltech

X-ray data from Chandra have revealed that NGC 2207 and IC 2163, currently in the process of colliding with one another, have produced one of the most bountiful collections of super bright X-ray lights called "ultraluminous X-ray sources" (ULXs). The true nature of ULXs is still debated, but they are likely a peculiar type of X-ray binary. In this composite image, X-ray data from Chandra are pink, optical light data from Hubble are red, green, and blue (appearing as blue, white, orange and brown), and infrared data from Spitzer are in red.

Provider: Chandra X-ray Observatory

Image Source: http://chandra.harvard.edu/photo/2014/ngc2207/

Curator: Chandra X-ray Observatory, Cambridge, MA, USA

Image Use Policy: http://chandra.harvard.edu/photo/image_use.html