Our own Milky Way galaxy is destined to merge with the neighbouring Andromeda galaxy in some four to five billion years.
In this particular case, however, the two galaxies are still far from a collision.
Hubble’s astronomers at the European Space Agency said: “Some galaxies are closer friends than others.
“While many live their own separate, solitary lives, others stray a little too close to a near neighbour and take their friendship even deeper.
“The two galaxies in this image taken by the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope, named NGC 6285 – left – and NGC 6286 – right – have done just that.