A Collection of Colliding Galaxies, Courtesy of the Hubble Space Telescope

According to the Space Telescope Science Institute, “Hubble astronomers conducting research on a class of galaxies called ultra-luminous infrared galaxies (ULIRG) have discovered that over two dozen of these are found within “nests” of galaxies, apparently engaged in multiple collisions that lead to fiery pile-ups of three, four or even five galaxies smashing together.”

“Using Hubble to conduct a three-year survey of 123 ULIRGs within 3 billion light-years of Earth, researchers found that 30% of them show strong visual evidence for multiple mergers, where astronomers previously thought only two galaxies were interacting.”

° Press release and images at the Space Telescope Science Institute