Although appearing as one object, this image shows two galaxies rushing past each other at about 1,243,000 miles per hour! This speed is most likely too fast for them to merge and form a single galaxy. However, because of their small separation of only about 20,000 light-years, the galaxies will distort one another through the force of gravity while passing each other, changing their structures on a grand scale. Details: http://go.nasa.gov/2raNa4G