Galaxy collision?

• by apoorvs

  Hi all, I am new here. I found this image very interesting as it seems as though two galaxies are colliding into on other. What do you think? Is this correct interpretation or can the small blob on top be just a dust cloud or something else in the foreground?

  Posted January 13, 2014 7:47 PM

• by JeanTate in response to apoorvs's comment.

  I think it certainly is interesting! The spiral looks somewhat disturbed, and its arms apparently regular but not quite the same shape as you usually see. The small blue blob is, almost certainly, galaxy, possibly starforming (which is why it's blue), possibly about to interact with (or has already flown by) the spiral. However, it could also be an #overlap, in which case it could be just what NGC3314 (astronomer Bill Keel IRL) is looking for!

  Happy hunting! 😃

  Posted January 14, 2014 12:10 AM