High School Students Found Two Galaxies Pulling Together
NGC 7253
The name for this pair of galaxies. [Space.com](https://www.space.com/astronomy/galaxies/galaxies-tangled-in-science-and-spirit-space-photo-of-the-day-for-sept-
What happened
A Space.com photo feature published on Sept. 7, 2026, shows NGC 7253. It is a pair of spiral galaxies caught in each other’s gravity. They are moving toward a merger. Their faint structures appear to overlap in the image. The picture was taken by the Gemini North telescope on Maunakea in Hawaii. See the Space.com report.
What is confirmed
NGC 7253 is about 200 million light-years from Earth. It lies in the direction of the constellation Pegasus. A light-year is the distance light travels in one year. The same region is also known by the Hawaiian constellation name Ka Lupe o Kawelo. The image is notable because both galaxies remain sharply outlined during their gravitational interaction. We can see the event clearly, even though it is extremely far away.
The students behind the observation
The galaxies were found by students from Waiākea High School and Volcano School of Arts and Sciences. They gained access to Gemini North through the Project Hōkūlani internship. The students then gave the discovery a Hawaiian name: Nā 'Uhane Māhoe Huki Pū i ke Ola. The name means The Twin Spirits Pulling Together Creating Life.
The name has several connected meanings. Huki Pū describes the physical pull between the galaxies. It also points to the people and communities that worked together to make the observation possible. The final part of the name reflects the students’ idea that galaxy interactions can lead to star birth. They also connected it with hope for finding life around a star beyond the Sun someday. That hope is not a discovery of life. It is part of the meaning the students gave their image.
Why the merger matters
A galaxy merger does not mean that all its stars crash together. Galaxies contain enormous amounts of empty space. Even when two galaxies overlap in a picture, most stars may pass without direct contact. Gas and dust behave differently. Material from both galaxies can come together. That process can sharply increase the birth of new stars.
This makes the image more than a beautiful view. It shows a physical process that can change both galaxies. It also shows how students connected that process with their own experience of learning, cooperation, and hope.
What remains unknown
The picture does not tell us when NGC 7253 will fully merge. It does not show the final shape of the combined galaxy. The Space.com feature also gives no measurement for how many new stars will form or how long that increase will last. The image is a view of the merger in progress, not a complete timeline.
What to watch next
Future observations would be useful for tracking changes in the two galaxy shapes. They could also help show how gas and dust become new stars. For now, NGC 7253 offers two stories at once. One is about gravity changing galaxies. The other is about young observers giving scientific evidence a meaning connected to their community and culture.
Two Galaxies Are Being Pulled Together
📰 Full story: High School Students Found Two Galaxies Pulling Together
High school students helped find a distant galaxy merger.
NGC 7253
The name of the two galaxies in the picture.
light-year
The distance light travels in one year.
gravity
A force that attracts things.
💡 The gist
- Two galaxies are being pulled together by gravity.
- High school students helped find and name the view.
- Their meeting can help more stars form.
The picture shows NGC 7253. It contains two spiral galaxies. They are about 200 million light-years from Earth. A light-year is the distance light travels in one year.
The Gemini North telescope took the picture. It sits on Maunakea in Hawaii. Gravity pulls the two galaxies toward each other. Gravity is a force that attracts things.
The galaxies may overlap in the picture. Their stars will not all crash together. Galaxies have a great deal of empty space. Gas and dust can still mix. This can help many new stars form.
Students from two Hawaii schools found the galaxies. The schools were Waiākea High School and Volcano School of Arts and Sciences. They used Gemini North through the Project Hōkūlani internship.
The students gave the discovery a Hawaiian name. It means twin spirits pulling together and creating life. The words describe the galaxies’ gravity. They also honor the people who worked together. The students connected new star birth with hope for life beyond the Sun.
The image does not tell us when the galaxies will become one. It also does not show their final shape. Future observations could track their changing forms. They could also show how gas and dust help stars form. Source: Space.com.
Two Star Groups Are Coming Closer
📰 Full story: High School Students Found Two Galaxies Pulling Together
Far away, two galaxies are moving closer together.
galaxy
A huge group of stars.
gravity
A force that pulls things closer.
telescope
A tool that helps us see faraway things.
NGC 7253 is two galaxies. A galaxy is a huge group of stars. Gravity pulls the galaxies toward each other. Gravity is a force that brings things closer.
The Gemini North telescope took their picture. A telescope helps us see faraway things. They are about 200 million light-years away. A light-year is a distance light travels in one year.
High school students helped find this sight. They gave the galaxies a Hawaiian name. The name means twin spirits creating life. Gas and dust can help new stars form. The stars will not all crash together. The galaxies have lots of empty space.