This horizontally-oriented public domain photo is from GRIN, the Great Images In NASA Collection, within the NASA image archive.

Captured in this image is the collision of two large spiral galaxies. The larger of the two galaxies is powerfully distorting the smaller and causing it to shoot out large tendrils of gas and star matter. The NASA website notes that this particular celestial contact is not a head-on collision but a grazing that will alter the trajectory of these giants such that later orbits will cause further damage, and eventually a convergence.

This public domain photo of a deep space collision would make a wonderful addition to any space collage, background image, or wallpaper. If you are in the illustration fields this might be a great canvas from which to develop a work.

This image was taken by the Hubble Space Telescope – NASA. NASA is an Agency of the United States Government, therefore this image is in the public domain.

3.42 Megabyte JPG. Hosted by nasa.gov.