Death-Ray Galaxy

One galaxy is firing a "death ray" at a close companion in this multi-wavelength view of the system known as 3C 321. The larger galaxy, at lower right, is emitting a beam of charged particles from near a supermassive black hole at its center. The beam is passing across a companion galaxy, just to the upper right of the brighter one, then continuing millions of light-years into space (blue streak). The beam could damage the atmosphere of any planet in its path. This image combines visible light with X-rays and radio waves. [NASA/ESA/D. Evans (CfA)]