This computer-enhanced image shows two galaxies in the constellation Canes Venatici. The larger of the two, NGC 5395, is distorted: its spiral arms are not entirely symmetrical, and there are bright spots and dark patches on the galaxyΓÇÖs right side where new stars are forming. Other parts of the galaxy appear uniformly bright. Although the bright areas are populated with young stars, for some reason new stars are no longer forming in these regions. This is also true of the smaller galaxy in the image, NGC 5394; there, too, star formation has abruptly stopped. It is possible that the interaction between the two galaxies has caused star formation to cease.
