The Colliding Spiral Galaxies of Arp 274

Explanation: Two galaxies are squaring off in Virgo and here are the latest pictures. When two galaxies collide , the stars that compose them usually do not. This is because galaxies are mostly empty space and, however bright, stars only take up only a small fraction of that space. But during the collision , one galaxy can rip the other apart gravitationally, and dust and gas common to both galaxies does collide . If the two galaxies merge , black holes that likely resided in each galaxy center may eventually merge . Because the distances are so large, the whole thing takes place in slow motion -- over hundreds of millions of years. Besides the two large spiral galaxies , a smaller third galaxy is visible on the far left of the featured image of Arp 274 , also known as NGC 5679. Arp 274 spans about 200,000 light years across and lies about 400 million light years away toward the constellation of Virgo .

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