Two galaxies appear to overlap in this newly released photo

Jun 15, 2012 07:11 GMT  ·  By
The closer, face-on galaxy is called NGC 3314A. Behind it lies the large spiral galaxy NGC 3314
   The closer, face-on galaxy is called NGC 3314A. Behind it lies the large spiral galaxy NGC 3314

Astronomers operating the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope have released a new image of a rare cosmic event, the overlapping of two galaxies. As the image above shows, the two objects are not actually hitting each other, since they are separated by a huge distance.

The effect is given by the relative positions these two cosmic formations are in in relation to Earth. The closer, face-on spiral galaxy, called NGC 3314A, is separated from the background one, NGC 3314, by tens of millions of light-years.

Experts estimate that the two objects are ten times farther apart than Milky Way is to its closest neighbor, the Andromeda Galaxy (M31). While these two will collide, the NGC 3314-3314A system most likely won’t.

This photo provides astronomers with a unique opportunity to study the structure of large spiral galaxies. The system provides a sort of natural laboratory, where theories on galactic evolution can be tested.