NGC 3169 is a striking spiral galaxy located approximately 70 million light-years away in the constellation Sextans. Unlike the classic symmetrical spirals, this galaxy exhibits pronounced distortions in its arms, likely due to gravitational interactions with its neighboring galaxy, NGC 3166. These tidal forces have stretched its outer arms, creating a visually dynamic structure filled with dust lanes and star-forming regions.

This image reveals the intricate details of NGC 3169’s spiral arms, which host young, hot blue stars, while its core glows with the golden light of older stellar populations. A prominent dust lane bisects the central bulge, indicating active star formation and turbulence. The galaxy’s active nucleus, powered by a supermassive black hole, emits faint but detectable emissions across multiple wavelengths, suggesting ongoing accretion activity.