A merging pair of galaxies NGC 4435 an NGC 4438, as seen in the "Big Picture". They are a part of the so-called "Markarian Chain", which is a centerpiece of the panoramic image. Galaxy collisions and mergers are relatively common in environments such as the Virgo cluster, and were much more frequent in the past. They can lead to bursts of star formation. These two galaxies are just starting their dance, leading to a merger probably about a billion years from now. The product of this cosmic collision will be a newly minted elliptical galaxy, similar to many already seen in the "Big Picture".

Image credit: The Palomar-Quest Team, California Institute of Technology