NGC 5331

NGC 5331 is a pair of interacting lenticular galaxies located approximately 450 million light-years away in the constellation Virgo. It is cataloged as a peculiar galaxy due to the noticeable distortion caused by their gravitational interaction.

The designation NGC 5331 technically refers to the brighter of the two galaxies, sometimes designated NGC 5331A. The fainter companion galaxy is sometimes referred to as NGC 5331B. These galaxies are undergoing a process of merging or significant tidal interaction.

Observations suggest that the interaction between the two galaxies has triggered star formation in certain regions, particularly in areas where gas and dust have been compressed due to the gravitational forces.

NGC 5331 is a relatively faint galaxy, requiring a telescope to observe it. Its designation comes from the New General Catalogue of Nebulae and Clusters of Stars, compiled by John Louis Emil Dreyer in 1888.