Galaxy NGC 474 has been undergoing some strange changes in appearance, mainly do to the shells that have developed around it. These shells are likely tidal tails related to debris left over from the absorption of numerous small galaxies over the past billion years. It is also possible that its adjacent galaxy is causing density waves to ripple through this massive galaxy. This picture supports the idea that the outer halos of large galaxies are not smooth, but rather complex due to their interaction with other, smaller galaxies.
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