This
Astrobin Debut Object is a pair of galaxies located 170 million light years away in the constellation of Coma Berenices at a declination of +27 degrees. This galaxy was classified by Dr. Arp into the wonderfully simple and accurate category of Double Galaxies.
The severely distorted spiral galaxy at top right is the magnitude 14 galaxy NGC 4016. It spans 1.5 arc-minutes in our apparent view, which corresponds to a diameter of 75,000 light years. This is one of my favorite galaxy structures. Words cannot adequately describe the wonderful looping shape, so I won’t even try. Well, I have to try a little. 4 strong arms extend from the core. An opposite pair are both looped and twisted completely back around to the core. It looks like a polar ring galaxy with an added twist.
The grand design spiral galaxy at bottom left is the magnitude 13 galaxy NGC 4017. It spans 2.5 arc-minutes in our apparent view, which corresponds to a Milky Way like diameter of 120,000 light years. Unlike its companion, many star clusters are seen in the arms. A star stream extension is seen to the left. Normally this would be a beautiful galaxy, and it is, but it is outclassed by the looping marvel above.
A short faint star stream segment, perhaps a tidal dwarf galaxy, is seen between the two galaxies, which I find to be fascinating. Detailed studies have shown that this segment is connect to the below left galaxy by a cold neutral hydrogen gas bridge.
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