A Galactic Gem in Delphinus: System ZW II 96 | NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory
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Two galaxies merge at a furious rate in this Aug. 25, 2026, image of the ZW II 96 system. Near the top of the image is a spiral galaxy shape with thick arms in fiery oranges, whites, and reds. At the bottom of the image is a faint hazy bowl shape marbled with grainy white ribbons and hot pink specks. Where the two shapes collide, in the center of the frame, the galaxy appears utterly chaotic, like a firework.
Distance from Earth: about 500 million light-years
The shape of these merging galaxies is unusual. A number of powerful young starburst regions hang as long, threadlike structures between the main galaxy cores. The system is relatively luminous, but has not yet reached the late stage of coalescence that is typical for most ultraluminous systems.
Chandra X-ray data (magenta) pinpoint powerful black hole activity and hot gas, while optical data (blue and white) from NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope and infrared data from NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope illuminate vast stellar nurseries hidden behind interstellar dust. Systems like II Zw 096 show us how powerful galactic collisions shaped the early universe.
X-rays are critical for the study of galaxies, revealing unique and important information about these cosmic building blocks. NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory sees examples of the hottest and most energetic galactic phenomena in the universe—forming a more complete picture of how galaxies live, interact, and evolve when combined with data from other types of light and telescopes.
Release Date: Sept. 11, 2026
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