Explanation:
A smaller companion seems wrapped in the spiral arms of enigmatic
galaxy NGC 1097.
This amazingly deep image of the peculiar spiral
system, also known as
Arp
77, actually combines data from two telescopes,
one in the northern and one in the southern hemisphere of planet
Earth.
The faint details revealed include hints of a
mysterious
jet emerging toward the top of the view.
Seen to be about 42,000 light-years from the larger galaxy's
center, the companion galaxy is gravitationally
interacting
with the spiral and will
ultimately merge with it.
NGC 1097's center also harbors a
massive black hole.
NGC 1097 is located about 45 million light-years away in
the chemical constellation
Fornax.
