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So Close, but So Far

A pinkish galaxy with a tail at center, and a grouping of reddish galaxies at bottom-right.
A pinkish galaxy with a tail at center, and a grouping of reddish galaxies at bottom-right. Image: NASA/STScI/CEERS/TACC/S. Finkelstein/M. Bagley/Z. Levay

In this image, a nearby galaxy (pink, center) faces off with a set of galaxies (reddish-orange, bottom right). But the former galaxy is at z=0.63 whereas the latter group is at z=1.85. When imaging deep fields, objects can appear to be next-door neighbors in the sky, when they’re actually at drastically different distances from Earth.

The highlight group of galaxies, in their larger context.
The highlight group of galaxies, in their larger context. Image: : NASA/STScI/CEERS/TACC/S. Finkelstein/M. Bagley/Z. Levay

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