While the image portrays the galaxies as close companions on the verge of impact, they are actually separated by vast cosmic gulfs, tens of millions of light-years apart – a distance roughly ten times greater than that between our Milky Way galaxy and its closest neighbor, Andromeda.
The culprit behind this illusion is the fortuitous alignment of the galaxies from our Earthly perspective. The foreground galaxy, NGC 3314A, a magnificent face-on spiral, has its spectacular spiral arms silhouetted against the backdrop of the background galaxy, NGC 3314B.
Scientists can discern this cosmic sleight of hand through various means. One key indicator is the undisturbed shapes of the galaxies. The immense gravitational forces unleashed during galactic collisions warp and distort their structures. While NGC 3314A exhibits some warping, it's likely due to a separate encounter with another galaxy in its past. Additionally, studying the galaxies' motions reveals they are traveling in entirely different directions, eliminating any possibility of a future clash.
This chance alignment, however, isn't merely a curious quirk. It significantly affects how we perceive these celestial objects. For instance, the dust lanes of NGC 3314B appear fainter because they are veiled by the brilliant foreground stars of NGC 3314A.
Despite being a cosmic illusion, this image offers a valuable glimpse into the vastness and complexity of the universe, reminding us that our perspective can sometimes deceive.