NGC 4725 (the predominant galaxy
in the image) lies approximately 40 million light years away in
the constellation of Coma Berenices - Queen Berenice's Hair. It
spans 100,000 light years, the same size as our Milky Way. NGC 4725
is somewhat unique in that whereas most galaxies have two arms,
this has only one (a phenomenon known as spira mirabilis).
The galaxy at the upper left is
NGC 4747. It lies approximately 55 million light years away and
is believed to have been distorted by interaction with the larger
NGC 4725.
The smaller spiral galaxy at the
lower right is NGC 4712. This lies much further (approximately 200
million light years) than NGC 4725 and NGC 4747.
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