AM0702 consists of a couple of detached galaxies, far apart and probably only just beginning to interact. The first signs of the interaction are visible in the galaxy on the left, where the outer structure of the spiral arms is starting to expand, extending a tidal tail of matter out into space.

This image is part of a large collection of 59 images of merging galaxies taken by the Hubble Space Telescope and released on the occasion of its 18th anniversary on 24th April 2008.

Credit:

NASA, ESA, the Hubble Heritage Team (STScI/AURA)-ESA/Hubble Collaboration and A. Evans (University of Virginia, Charlottesville/NRAO/Stony Brook University)