Interacting galaxies ZW II 96

by: Nasa/Esa/Hubble Heritage Team/Novapix
Reference: a-gax95-00370
Date: 2008-05-11

This is a system of merging galaxies with a bizarre shape. Powerful young starburst regions hang as long threadlike structures between the main galaxy cores. The system almost qualifies as an ultra-luminous system, but has not yet reached the late stage of coalescence that is the norm for most ultra-luminous systems. ZW II 96 is located in the constellation of Delphinus, the Dolphin, about 500 million light-years away from Earth.

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