In the constellation Canes Venatici (Hunting Dogs), 25 million light-years away, two galaxies are merging and creating gravitational waves behind them. The galaxy on the left, called the Vortex galaxy because of its swirling structure, passes in front of NGC 5194, stretching the long arms of the spiral galaxy.

Gravitational waves from NGC 5194 ripple through the Vortex galaxy, creating clouds of dust and gas that collapse into newly formed stars, shown in pink. The Vortex's most massive stars battle radiation and the stellar wind, decorating the galaxy's arms with blue dots.

Image description:

The Whirlpool galaxy glows with a yellow-white core and blue, pink, purple and brown spiral dotted arms. In the upper right of the image, a yellowish galaxy appears to be tugging on one of Whirlpool's arms. Small stars and galaxies dot the image, adding small colours to the darkness of space.

Isn't that romantic?