US space agency NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration) often delights space enthusiasts with updates on the latest discoveries related to galaxies, stars, and planets within our solar system. It also shares captivating images captured by its spacecraft. Now, in its most recent post, the space agency dropped a mesmerising photograph of an interacting galaxy pair known as Arp-Madore 2339-661. Located roughly 500 million light-years from Earth, the image was captured using NASA and the European Space Agency’s Hubble Space Telescope. 

“A galactic tango! This striking #HubbleFriday image captures the gravitationally-interacting galaxy pair known as Arp-Madore 2339-661,” NASA wrote in the caption. 

Take a look below: 

The two galaxies are in the process of merging, according to a statement from the European Space Agency. One galaxy is known as NGC 7733 – the smaller galaxy seen in the lower right – and the other is NGC 7734 – the larger galaxy in the upper left. However, hidden in the star-studded spiral arm of the smaller galaxy is yet another galaxy, referred to as NGC 7733N. 

“The third galaxy is currently referred to as NGC 7733N, and can actually be spotted in this picture if you look carefully at the upper arm of NGC 7733, where there is a visually notable knot-like structure, glowing with a different colour to the arm and obscured by dark dust,” the ESA wrote in its blog.

“This could easily pass as part of NGC 7733, but analysis of the velocities (speed, but also considering direction) involved in the galaxy shows that this knot has a considerable additional redshift, meaning that it is very likely its own entity and not part of NGC 7733,” it added. 

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Further, according to the European Space Agency, the three galaxies lie relatively close to each other in the constellation Tucana and are interacting gravitationally with one another. In fact, some science literature refers to them as a ‘merging group,’ which means they will ultimately become a single entity, ESA said. 

Meanwhile, since being posted, the picture has collected nearly 7 lakh likes on Instagram. 

Israel has “expanded” its operations in the Gaza Strip with the Palestinian group Hamas saying its operatives were ready to confront attacks with “full force”. As Israeli air and ground forces stepped up their attacks on Friday night, local telecom firms and the Palestinian Red Crescent Society in Gaza said that the internet and mobile phone services were cut off.

“In the last hours, we intensified the attacks in Gaza,” Israel’s military spokesperson Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari said in a televised news briefing. He also said that Israel’s air force was conducting extensive strikes on Hamas’ tunnels and other infrastructure.

“In addition to the attacks carried out in the last few days, ground forces are expanding their operations tonight,” he said.

Since the October 7 Hamas attack on Israeli towns, that killed over 1,400 people, Gaza’s health ministry has said that Israel’s retaliatory bombardments have killed more than 7,300 Palestinians.

Here are the live updates on the Israel-Hamas war:

Dismissing some survey reports suggesting that there would be a “hung” assembly in Telangana after the November 30 polls, BRS MLC K Kavitha said on Saturday that her party is going to triumph in the elections while Congress and others win only in surveys.

Replying to a host of questions from netizens on “X”, she also said with the blessings of the Telangana people, BRS is going to win between 95 and 105 seats in the 119-member house.

“They played the same trick in 2018. Many surveys were thrown at the people in 2018 as well .. but BRS won with a thumping majority. Let Congress & others win the surveys this time also & BRS will win the election,” she replied when asked about some surveys’ results on the hung assembly.

On Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s remarks that the BJP, if it wins the polls in Telangana, will make a BC candidate as chief minister, she ridiculed that the saffron party replaced a BC leader with an OC (open category) person as state unit head. The Central government also refused to conduct an OBC caste census across the country, she said.

“BJP refuses to give reservations to OBC women. BJP refuses to form BC welfare ministry at the Centre. BJP refuses to give a 33% OBC quota in parliament & assemblies. Now the same BJP says that they’ll make BC a CM…what I see is just another election Gimmick,” she slammed.

When asked who her favourite politician other than her father (K Chandrasekhar Rao), she replied it is West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.

K Kavitha said the arrest of former Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh N Chandrababu Naidu, is “unfortunate” and her sympathies are with his family.