Credit: X-ray NASA/CXC/IfA/D.Sanders et al; Optical NASA/STScI/NRAO/A.Evans et al

This composite image of VV 340 contains X-ray data from Chandra (purple)

and optical data from Hubble (red, green, blue). The two galaxies shown

here are in the early stage of an interaction that will eventually lead to

them merging in millions of years. The Chandra data shows that the northern

galaxy contains a rapidly growing supermassive black hole that is heavily

obscured by dust and gas. Data from other wavelengths shows that the two

interacting galaxies are evolving at different rates.

Provider: Chandra X-ray Observatory

Image Source: http://chandra.harvard.edu/photo/2011/vv340/

Curator: Chandra X-ray Observatory, Cambridge, MA, USA

Image Use Policy: http://chandra.harvard.edu/photo/image_use.html