NGC3521 The Bubble Galaxy

I think this must rate as one of my favourite galaxies. 

It’s the gorgeous spiral galaxy NGC 3521 found in the constellation Leo. NGC3521 is a Flocculent Galaxy with the characteristic patchy, irregular spiral arms laced with dust, pink star forming regions, and clusters of young, blue stars. The remarkable thing about this galaxy is that it is embedded in gigantic bubble-like shells. The shells are likely tidal debris, streams of stars torn from satellite galaxies that have undergone mergers with NGC 3521 in the distant past, giving NGC3521 its alternative name as the ‘Bubble Galaxy’

https://app.astrobin.com/i/2sv7kd