Very Large Telescope image of Arp 271, also known as NGC 5426 and NGC 5427.

This pair of interacting galaxies are tugging on each other with gravity, which has begun to distort their features. We can see this interaction in the bridge of stars connecting the galaxies. The interaction may have also triggered bursts of star formation in both galaxies.

Credit: ESO
Source: https://www.eso.org/public/images/potw2020a/

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