Tadpole Galaxy

The Tadpole Galaxy is a disrupted barred spiral galaxy. The cosmic tadpole is a mere 420 million light-years distant, and its eye-catching tail is about 280 thousand light-years long, featuring massive, bright blue star clusters.

One possible explanation for the form of the galaxy is that a more compact intruder galaxy crossed in front of it, and was slung around behind the Tadpole by their gravitational attraction. During the close encounter, tidal forces drew out the spiral galaxy's stars, gas, and dust, forming the spectacular tail. The intruder galaxy itself, estimated to lie about 300 thousand light-years behind the Tadpole, can be seen through foreground spiral arms at the upper left. Following its namesake, the Tadpole Galaxy will likely lose its tail as it grows older, the tail's star clusters forming smaller satellites of the large spiral galaxy.