In that case the two galaxies will merge to form a giant elliptical galaxy.
Whole galaxies can merge, forming what seems to be a single entity.
Astronomers have predicted that all five galaxies may eventually merge into one large elliptical galaxy.
One study found that large galaxies merged with each other on average once over the past 9 billion years.
As the universe has evolved, galaxies often collide and merge, creating larger galaxies.
When observation did not match expectation, this posed problems for theories of how galaxies merge and grow.
Ultimately, the galaxies will merge to form a single giant elliptical galaxy.
Astronomers predict that the three galaxies may merge millions of years in the future to form a giant elliptical galaxy.
A likely outcome of the collision is that the galaxies will merge to form a giant elliptical galaxy.
The new galaxy probably merged with other infant galaxies and matter to form a bigger, more mature one, he said.