Arp 273

Arp 273, sometimes also called Rose Galaxies or UGC 1810/1813, is a pair of interacting spiral galaxies. They are both in the process of merging into one giant elliptical galaxy, which distorts the shape of the larger galaxy UGC 1810 by the gravitational pull of the smaller galaxy UGC 1813, into a rose-like shape, hence their name "Rose Galaxies". Both of them are located in the constellation of Andromeda, about 300 million light-years away. The collision smashed gas clouds together, triggering star formation. The smaller galaxy is showing distinct signs of active star formation and it is likely that the smaller one passed through the center of the larger.