M64 - Black Eye Galaxy
17 million light-years away, in the constellation of Coma Berenices, lies a bright and beautiful galaxy designated M64. It is also called the “Black Eye Galaxy” because of a very extensive band of dark dust covering part of its central region. The most recent studies have shown that the galaxy's outer region rotates in the opposite direction to its nucleus, probably as a result of an ancient collision with a smaller galaxy that was later absorbed by M64. These two counter-rotating zones collide, forming pockets of compressed gas that give rise to regions of extremely intense star formation.
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