More books on the Readings page. The MMTO took first visible light images in May and first infrared images in June.
Astronomers say the best is yet to come.
UA astronomer Donald W. McCarthy and graduate students Joannah Hinz and Rose Finn used an infrared electronic camera they designed to photograph Spiral galaxy NGC 7479 in the constellation Pegasus. Astronomy graduate student Phil Hinz combined two infrared images for a true color image that shows interesting structures at the very heart of the galaxy. However, NGC 7479's nucleus appears much more active, McCarthy said. In addition, a long bar-shaped structure and spiral arms that are not symmetrical are visible in its central region. These unusual features are attributed to the fact that NGC 7479 is cannibalizing another galaxy in a merger that began 5 million years ago.