Seen in the center of this image, NGC 4438 and NGC 4435 are a pair of interacting galaxies in Virgo with the popular name of the Eyes.

They are located 100,000 light-years apart in space now, but a close encounter in the past has distorted their shapes due to gravitational interactions in the pass.

NGC 4438, at center, shines at magnitude 10.2 and subtends an apparent angle of 8.5 x 3 arcminutes. Its unusual shape is further influenced by interactions with other nearby galaxies.

NGC 4435, close above and to the right of NGC 4438, shines at magnitude 10.8 and subtends an apparent angle of 3 x 2.2 arcminutes. It is a barred lenticular galaxy.

The interacting pair of NGC 4438 and NGC 4435 are also designated as Arp 120.

Both are located 52 million light-years away in the Virgo galaxy cluster.

NGC 4438 may also be interacting with the nearby giant elliptical galaxy M86, seen at the lower right side of the image.

North is to the top in the above image.

NGC 4438, NGC 4435 Catalogs: NGC 4438: SA0/a(s) pec Galaxy NGC 4435: SB0^0(s) Galaxy Common Name: The Eyes Object Type: Galaxy Group Magnitude: NGC 4438: 10.0v NGC 4435: 10.8v Size: NGC 4438: 8.5' x 3' NGC 4435: 3' x 2.2' Constellation: Virgo Image Field Centered At: RA: 12h 27m 42s Dec: +13° 01' 48"