Look at pictures of two merging galaxies, taken 9 years apart

The image shows two spiral galaxies NGC 3314a and NGC 3314b. The photo looks like they're colliding, but

In reality, the objects are separated by tens of millions of light years, which is about 10 times the distance between the Milky Way and the Andromeda Nebula. 

Photo of 2012Photo of 2021

They are located at distances of 117 and 140 million light years from us and are not physically connected. 

The angle makes it possible to properly examine the silhouette of the spiral arms of the nearest galaxy to us - NGC 3314A.

This unique match providesastronomers have the opportunity to measure many of their parameters, for example, those related to the absorption of light by dust. This allows us to better understand the structure and evolution of these galaxies.

Agency message ESO

It is noted that the galaxies are in relative calm and fly in different directions.

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