This image combines observations of cold neutral hydrogen gas (blue) with optical imaging (red) of galaxy Markarian 348. Like most spiral galaxies, Markarian 348 contains hydrogen gas that extends beyond its visible elements. At a length of 600 light years, the blue hydrogen streamer is much larger than the red central portion of Markarian 348. The streamer may have been formed by an interaction with a nearby smaller galaxy (the red area just left of the center). Markarian 348ΓÇÖs spiral arms appear as red knobs on either side of the denser central bulge. This is an Sa type spiral galaxy, which typically have large central bulges. Markarian 348 is also a Seyfert galaxy; its nucleus is thought to contain a massive
