https://www.legacysurvey.org//viewer/?ra=128.1576&dec=9.7786&layer=ls-dr9&zoom=15
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Yes, a merger. It is very similar to the Taffy galaxies (UGC 12914/5) in structure. It looks like that the galaxies did a sideswipe toward each other resulting in a merger like this, with starburst regions towards the 10:00 position.
In this image, the galaxies to my knowledge look to be moving away from each other, likewise the structure of the merger. Both will eventually result in a pair of two arc-shaped spiral galaxies.
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