And now for something entirely different. The Hubble Space Telescope caught this stunning image of two galaxies in the process of merging. Collectively, these two galaxies are cataloged as VV-689. They started out as two normal spiral systems, but their interactions have stretched them into this beautiful symmetry. Over time, they will swing back and forth through each other, until eventually, they settle into being a single system that will in all likelihood be a fairly boring elliptical galaxy.

Beauty is fleeting, even among the stars.

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NASA image release