This
Astrobin Debut Object is a pair of merging galaxies located 320 million light years away in the constellation of Aquarius at a declination of -4 degrees. Each galaxy spans 40 arc-seconds in our apparent view, which corresponds to a diameter of 70,000 light years.
The 2 galaxy cores are separated by 14 arc-seconds. This is the type of object that I classify as a
Stage C Merger, where the cores are almost touching but still distinct.
I like the contrasting blue and yellow colors of this pair, as well as the very faint star stream which forms a broad downward arc. It looks to me like this stream is emanating from the older yellow galaxy.
The small bright white region below the pair of cores is considered by some to be a 3rd galaxy, but most sources now agree that it is simply a bright star cloud in the blue galaxy.
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