Hickson Compact Group 40
Galaxies, like stars, frequently form groups.
A group of galaxies is a system containing more than
two galaxies but less than the
tens or hundreds typically found in a
cluster of galaxies.
A most notable example is the Local Group of Galaxies, which
houses over 30 galaxies including our
Milky Way,
Andromeda, and the
Magellanic Clouds.
Pictured above is nearby compact group Hickson 40.
This
group is located about 300 million
light-years away toward the constellation of Hydra.
Of the five prominent galaxies in Hickson 40, three are
spirals,
one is an elliptical and one is a
lenticular.
Many galaxies in compact groups are either
slowly merging or
gravitationally pulling
each other apart.