Description:

01/12/11 - 01:37 GMT

Liverpool Telescope

Instituto de Astrofisica de Canarias

This month we have a 3-colour image of an irregular galaxy called NGC 1961. The galaxy's unusual shape is most likely due to a past collision with another large galaxy, but because no other culprit is visible in the vicinity, the two galaxies are thought to have merged into one. Dust lanes are visible around the core.