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Kitt Peak image of Arp 78, also known as NGC 772.

One of NGC 772’s spiral arms is particularly prominent. This is likely due to gravitational interactions with its companion galaxy NGC 770, the small elliptical galaxy in the center near the top of the frame. The interactions left NGC 772's bottom arm elongated and asymmetrical.

Credit: KPNO, NOIRLab, NSF, AURA, A. Block
Source: noirlab.edu/public/images/noao

A nearly face-on spiral galaxy is in the center of the frame. Appearing somewhat like an aerial view of a hurricane, the galaxy's spiral arms swirl around a bright yellow-white center. The curling arms are defined by dark brown dust lanes. While the arms in the upper portion of the galaxy are somewhat poorly defined, in the bottom of the galaxy, one overdeveloped spiral arm curves counter-clockwise from about 3 o'clock to about 8 o'clock. Since this arm flattens out near its end, in contrast to the rounder upper arms, the overall shape of the galaxy resembles a paisley. In the center of the frame, near the top, is its small companion galaxy, seen as a fuzzy oval. The black background of space is filled with tiny background galaxies and foreground stars.
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