When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works. An elliptical galaxy NGC 3640 situated just above its smaller galactic neighbor NGC 3641. (Image credit: ESO/INAF/M. Mirabile et al./R. Ragusa et al.) An unusual elliptical galaxy with a history of absorbing smaller galaxies appears to be approaching its next target. New images from the Very Large Telescope (VLT) at the European Southern Observatory's (ESO) Paranal Observatory suggest that the galaxy, known as NGC 3640, may soon merge with a smaller galactic companion. Located 88 million light-years from Earth, NGC 3640 belongs to a group of galaxies that range in shape and size, including its own unusual oval or egg shape. The VLT images revealed that NGC 3640 has eaten other galaxies over the past several billion years and a smaller neighbor, known as NGC 3641, now lies within its path. Located just below NGC 3640 in the recent image, NGC 3641 may eventually be the larger galaxy's next meal. "Throughout their extremely long lifetime, galaxies change. As they soar through space, they may steal gas and stars from other galaxies, or even engulf and merge with them," ESO officials said in a statement accompanying the new image. "After these events, galaxies can become distorted, as exemplified by the misshaped NGC 3640 and the diffuse light around it." You may like