This is an impending collision of galaxies in Sextans. NDG3169 is on the left, and NGC3166 on the right. NGC3165, the smaller one to the right, is also being dragged into the event.

The distance between the major players is already narrow, and the image contains information on what things look like at the end when spirals collapse to become a featureless elliptical. NGC3169 is literally becoming unraveled, strewing tidal material around in a broad swath.. Note the internal activity in both of the larger galaxies. The major arm structure in 3169 has pretty much dissipated on the side nearest the impending collision. The upper central part of the galaxy shows a strong H II region has formed, probably in reaction.

3166 has seemingly lost all its arms structure with only dark wire-like features left.

Even the smaller NGC1365’s spiral arm structure has been re-shaped into a chaotic design.

All in all, a picture of spirals losing their spiral shapes, becoming more diffused, as they begin the process of forming into an elliptical.

PlaneWave 12.5″ Astrograph with ZWO ASI 6200 camera, Astrodon filters, and ASAS gearless DDM-85 mount. F/8 LRGB (38/8 min L, 16/4min RGB each, all 2×2 bin).