This image may not be used by or to promote the arms, nuclear power or tobacco industries or any religious organisation, or in any discriminatory way,

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This image may not be used by or to promote the arms, nuclear power or tobacco industries or any religious organisation, or in any discriminatory way, or to imply the endorsement by ESO of any product, service or activity Merged galaxies. Composite image showing a rare triple merger of galaxies. This system, which astronomers have dubbed 'The Bird' is composed of two massive spiral galaxies and a third irregular galaxy. The image was obtained using the European Southern Observatory's (ESO) Very Large Telescope. A 30-minute K-band exposure has been combined with archive B and I-band images to produce a three-colour image.

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Size: 3082px × 2835px
Photo credit: © EUROPEAN SOUTHERN OBSERVATORY/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

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