ALT This image from the Gemini North telescope in Hawai‘i reveals a pair of interacting spiral galaxies — NGC 4568 (bottom) and NGC 4567 (top) — as they begin to clash and merge. The galaxies will eventually form a single elliptical galaxy in around 500 million years. The galaxies both appear light blue and white in colour, with dark rust-coloured dust lanes visible forming a spiral pattern. Credit: International Gemini Observatory/NOIRLab/NSF/AURA Image processing: T.A. Rector (University of Alaska Anchorage/NSF's NOIRLab), J. Miller (Gemini Observatory/NSF's NOIRLab), M. Zamani (NSF’s NOIRLab) & D. de Martin (NSF’s NOIRLab)

ALT An image of the star cluster NGC 3532. Stars of blue, orange and white shine brightly against a dark red and black backdrop of space. Credit: ESO

ALT An artist's impression of the ancient stars in the inner region of the Milky Way. Some examples of the orbits of the stars have been highlighted on the left. The right-hand side shows the location of these stars in the Galaxy with respect to the Sun, spinning around slowly. Credit: Left background image: ESA/Gaia, artist's impression: Amanda J. Smith and Anke Arentsen, Institute of Astronomy, Cambridge