NASA reveals turbulent merger of two galaxies in II Zw 096
Combined observations from Chandra, Hubble and Webb show black hole activity, hot gas and dust-shrouded stellar nurseries in the rapidly merging system.
NASA has released a set of images showing II Zw 096, a galaxy system in which two galaxies are merging rapidly.
The composite observations bring together data from NASA’s Chandra X-ray Observatory, the Hubble Space Telescope and the James Webb Space Telescope. The images were released on 25 August 2026.
Chandra’s X-ray data identify powerful black hole activity and hot gas within the system. Optical observations from Hubble trace visible structures, while Webb’s infrared view reveals extensive stellar nurseries hidden behind interstellar dust.
NASA said systems such as II Zw 096 can help researchers investigate how powerful galaxy collisions shaped the early universe. The observation is presented as an example relevant to that broader question, rather than as proof from the images alone.
The released image shows the luminous interacting system against a field containing distant stars and galaxies.
