NGC1532: This is a spiral galaxy visually within the constellation Eridanus (in the southern sky), locked in a gravitational battle with its smaller satellite NGC1531. Ultimately, the larger galaxy will absorb the smaller galaxy (as eventually our own Milky Way galaxy will absorb its satellite galaxies, such as the Large Magellanic Cloud). But the larger galaxy is being deformed a bit by the gravitation forces being exerted on it (NGC1532 is presenting to us edge-on; the distortion allows us to see some of the arms despite that, since it's not any longer contained in a fairly narrow disc). This pair is thought to be very similar to M51 and NGC5195. This is an outlying part of the Fornax galaxy cluster. The pinkish regions are active star-forming regions in this galaxy, and the bluish tinge is a result of clusters of bright young stars. Intense star-forming is a common result of gravitational interaction between galaxies. This galaxy is about the same size as our own Milky Way galaxy, about 100,000 light years across; it is over 50 million light years from us.
Copyright 2014, 2015 Mark de Regt