Hubble shows cosmic collisions of two galaxies in the Coma Cluster.

A compelling image of two interacting galaxies, known as MCG+05-31-045, has been shared by NASA and the European Space Agency (ESA) via the Hubble Space Telescope. It is located 390 million light years away in the Coma Cluster. The smaller galaxy’s spiral arms appear to be merging with the larger one, with a tail of material and a halo connecting the two, indicating an ongoing collision that could eventually completely transform their structure.

The Coma Cluster: a rich galactic collection

The Coma clusterhome to this galactic interaction, is a dense collection of more than a thousand known galaxies. Although most are elliptical in shape, these shapes are typically created by gravitational interactions such as collisions. During these events, the structure of spiral galaxies is disrupted and their gas is compressed, causing bursts of new star formation. Once the massive blue stars exhaust their energy and die out, the galaxies are left with cooler, redder stars and little gas to allow further star formation. Over time, such interactions result in the formation of elliptical galaxies.

The future of MCG+31-05-045

Scientists believe the same transformation is underway for MCG+31-05-045. As the smaller galaxy merges with its larger neighbor, gravitational forces will cause intense star formation. This phase will not last indefinitely. Once the hot, massive stars die out, the resulting structure will likely resemble the elliptical galaxies found in the Coma Cluster. Despite the dramatic changes, this process will unfold over millions of years.

This image, captured by Hubble and processed by RJ Foley of UC Santa Cruz, shows the intricate dynamics of galactic evolution and offers a glimpse into the future of galaxies shaped by their cosmic interactions