IC 2810: IC 2810 is a disc galaxy viewed nearly edge-on. It is slightly disturbed by gravitational interaction with a smaller, dusty companion (located to the bottom of the image). The larger galaxy shows blue knots of star formation. Although the pair has no overlapping region at present, it is possible that the two will eventually collide in the future. IC 2810 is located in the constellation of Leo, the Lion, about 450 million light-years away. 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.

Name: IC 2810
Type: Local Universe : Galaxy : Type : Interacting
Category: AnniversaryGalaxies
Constellation: Leo
Distance: 450 million light years
Release date: 24 April 2008, 15:00
Credit: NASA, ESA, the Hubble Heritage Team (STScI/AURA)-ESA/Hubble Collaboration and A. Evans (University of Virginia, Charlottesville/NRAO/Stony Brook University)

IRAS 21101+5810: This system is an interacting galaxy pair. The interaction has disturbed both galaxies: the lower galaxy has a bizarre structure and a tidal tail emerges from the main body of the upper galaxy. The galaxy pair lies in a crowded field of Milky Way stars. IRAS 21101+5810 is located in the constellation of Cepheus, the King, about 550 million light-years away from Earth. 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.

Name: IRAS 21101+5810, LEDA 90383
Type: Local Universe : Galaxy : Type : Interacting
Category: AnniversaryGalaxies
Constellation: Cepheus
Distance: 500 million light years
Release date: 24 April 2008, 15:00
Credit: NASA, ESA, the Hubble Heritage Team (STScI/AURA)-ESA/Hubble Collaboration and A. Evans (University of Virginia, Charlottesville/NRAO/Stony Brook University)

AM 0702-601: 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.

Name: AM 0702-601
Type: Local Universe : Galaxy : Type : Interacting
Category: AnniversaryGalaxies
Constellation: Carina
Distance: 400 million light years
Release date: 24 April 2008, 15:00
Credit: NASA, ESA, the Hubble Heritage Team (STScI/AURA)-ESA/Hubble Collaboration and A. Evans (University of Virginia, Charlottesville/NRAO/Stony Brook University)

IRAS F10565+2448: IRAS F10565+2448 is a system that appears to consist of two colliding galaxies. The larger galaxy has dust lanes, while the smaller galaxy has a pronounced curved tail that has been pulled away from the centre (downwards as seen here). IRAS F10565+2448 is located in the constellation of Leo, the Lion, about 600 million light-years away. Some scientists regard this system as a candidate for a three-galaxy system. The nature of the third object is unknown. 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.

Name: IRAS 10566+2448, LEDA 33083
Type: Local Universe : Galaxy : Type : Interacting
Category: AnniversaryGalaxies
Constellation: Leo
Distance: 400 million light years
Release date: 24 April 2008, 15:00
Credit: NASA, ESA, the Hubble Heritage Team (STScI/AURA)-ESA/Hubble Collaboration and A. Evans (University of Virginia, Charlottesville/NRAO/Stony Brook University)

NGC 695: NGC 695 is a peculiar galaxy which looks like a revolving tornado. It is a disturbed spiral galaxy, seen face-on, with loosely wound spiral arms. Knotty star-forming regions are tangled in a mesh of dust and gas. NGC 695 is in an interaction with a small companion located just outside the image to the left. Scientists believe that this is a recent but relatively weak interaction. NGC 695 is located in the constellation of Aries, the Ram, about 450 million light-years away from Earth. 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.

Name: NGC 695
Type: Local Universe : Galaxy : Type : Interacting
Category: AnniversaryGalaxies
Constellation: Aries
Distance: 400 million light years
Release date: 24 April 2008, 15:00
Credit: NASA, ESA, the Hubble Heritage Team (STScI/AURA)-ESA/Hubble Collaboration and A. Evans (University of Virginia, Charlottesville/NRAO/Stony Brook University)

ESO 286-19: ESO 286-19 is a peculiar galaxy that consists of what were originally two disc galaxies that are now in the midst of an ongoing collision. It has undergone a burst of star formation that ended about eight million years ago. ESO 286-19 has a long tail to the right of the main body, and a shorter tail curving to the left. The presence of the tails is a unique signature of the merger process: gas and stars were stripped out by rippling gravitational pulls as the galaxies collided and the outer regions of the parent galaxies were torn off. These tidal tails can persist long after the galaxies have finally merged. ESO 286-19 is located 600 million light-years away from Earth and is an exceptionally luminous source of infrared radiation. 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.

Name: ESO 286-19
Type: Local Universe : Galaxy : Type : Interacting
Category: AnniversaryGalaxies
Constellation: Microscopium
Distance: 550 million light years
Release date: 24 April 2008, 15:00
Credit: NASA, ESA, the Hubble Heritage Team (STScI/AURA)-ESA/Hubble Collaboration and A. Evans (University of Virginia, Charlottesville/NRAO/Stony Brook University)