The Antennae galaxies are in an ongoing collision. The collision scene is 45 million ly away in Corvus. Their long, outstretched arms of stars, gas and dust give the object its name. Note the intense maroon color near the center where the 2 cores are merging. Here a massive HII region is creating new stars out of the turbulent gas and dust.

PlaneWave 12.5″ Astrograph with an ST11000 camera, Astrodon filters, and ASA gearless DDM-85 mount. F/8 LRGB (52/6min L, 10/6min each 2×2 RGB).