When Galaxies Collide: Cosmic Owl

The odd object, known as ESO 148-2, looks like some weird water bug seen head-on.

Located about 600 million light-years from us, it is the result of two galaxies merging, with their cores located in the central “body” and a great deal of matter sweeping out into two curved “wings.”

Image: NASA, ESA, the Hubble Heritage Team (STScI/AURA)-ESA/Hubble Collaboration and A. Evans (University of Virginia, Charlottesville/NRAO/Stony Brook University)