Hubble HD: Arp 273 Zoom Sequence

This is a view looking high into a patch of the autumn sky containing the constellations Perseus, Andromeda, and Triangulum.

We're zooming into a region of space nestled between the "demon star" Algol on the left, and the star Almaak on the right.

Our view goes deeper and narrower into space. It is full of stars that are not visible to the naked eye.

Up ahead is a remarkable spiral and S-shaped object that is 300 million light-years beyond our Milky Way.

This is the interacting galaxy Arp 273.

We'll first zoom into the smaller member of the pair. It is a nearly edge-on galaxy that shows distinct signs of intense star formation at its nucleus.

This was perhaps triggered by the encounter with the companion galaxy above.

It is gravitationally distorted into a rose-like shape by the tidal pull of the smaller companion galaxy.