(IMAGE) National Institutes of Natural Sciences Caption Red data points are the observed data; most of them have elongated shapes and larger galaxies tend to have larger ellipticities. Gray-colored regions represent the probability distributions calculated with the computer simulations, in which two galaxies are located at so close distance that they are blended as an elongated galaxy, as shown in the right pictures schematically. Credit Ehime University Usage Restrictions None License Licensed content Disclaimer: AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert system.