---
title: "Astronomy Photo of the Day: 4/28/15 — Arp 84"
description: "[![NGC 5394-95]()]() *Image Credit: Adam Block/Mount Lemmon SkyCenter/University of Arizona*"
date: "2015-04-28"
modified: "2015-04-28"
authors:
  - name: "Jaime Trosper"
    link: "https://futurism.com/authors/jaimefqtq"
url: "https://futurism.com/apotd-arp-84"
categories:
  - "From Quarks to Quasars"
---

# Astronomy Photo of the Day: 4/28/15 — Arp 84

![](<https://futurism.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/NGC-5394-95-e1430208889476.jpg>)

[![NGC 5394-95](<https://futurism.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/NGC-5394-95-e1430208889476.jpg>)](<https://futurism.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/NGC-5394-95-e1430208889476.jpg>)
*Image Credit: Adam Block/Mount Lemmon SkyCenter/University of Arizona*

Ultimately, the universe experiences life and death in equal measure, but it's certainly not rare to see something change form; that's exactly what happens when galaxies of all shapes, sizes and colors meet and converge—they leave chaos in their wake until they eventually settle into new configurations.

The strange formation above is one example of a gravitational merger. The galaxies involved—known as NGC 5395 and NGC 5394, or simply [Arp 84](<http://www.astronomersdoitinthedark.com/index.php?c=141&p=523>)—can be found approximately 165 million light-years from Earth in the constellation of Canes Venatici.

Clearly, this encounter hasn't reached a conclusion yet, as we see many telltale signs in its structure. One section suggests the smaller galaxy *(NGC 5394)* once pieced the central region of the larger one *(NGC 5395)*, the aftereffect giving them the likeness of a blue heron.

See a larger image [here](<http://www.caelumobservatory.com/mlsc/n5394s.jpg>).

## Author
Jaime is a freelance writer, who finds great joy in sharing the wonders of universe with others. She used this passion to launch "From Quarks to Quasars" in 2012.