ZW II 96

The object ZW II 96 (also II Zw 96) is a pair of galaxies that are merging. It is located in the constellation Delphinus, about 500 million light-years away from Earth.
The shape of the merging galaxies is unusual; a number of powerful young starburst regions hang as long, threadlike structures between the main galaxy cores. The system almost qualifies as an ultraluminous system, but has not yet reached the late stage of coalescence that is the norm for most ultraluminous systems.
The photograph is one of a collection of 59 images of merging galaxies taken by the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope. This collection of images was released on the occasion of the 18th anniversary of Hubble's launch on 24 April 2008.