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NASA/ESA's Hubble Space Telescope has observed three merging galaxies that will eventually form a single mega galaxy.
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Mutual gravitational interaction is distorting their spiral structures as they draw closer.
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There is an unrelated galaxy floating near the scene, while small shapes of far more distant galaxies are visible in the background.
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The merging galaxies have been classified as SDSSCGB 10189.
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They are a relatively rare trio of large star-forming galaxies.
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The merging galaxies are located within 50,000 light-years of each other, which is considered too close for comfort in astronomical terms.
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The Milky Way's galactic neighbors are much further away, such as Andromeda, which is more than 2.5 million light-years from Earth.
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The gravitational forces involved in the merging galaxies will trigger new star formation and the creation of new structures.
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The collision is expected to take millions of years, and eventually, the merged galaxy will become an elliptical galaxy.
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The Hubble Space Telescope allows scientists to study the process of galaxy formation and evolution in unprecedented detail.