APOD #5 on "In the Arms of NGC 1097"

Galaxy NGC 1097 has a companion galaxy, 42,000 light years away, that gravitationally interacts with NGC 1097, and will eventually merge with the larger galaxy. Seen in the picture is a hint of a jet from the top of the galaxy. It's origin is unknown.
Within the confines of NGC 1097 is a super-massive black hole which makes up the bulk of the activity surrounding the active, albeit faint, nucleus. Scientists believe it to be faint because the super-massive black hole is only "gulping down" small amounts of matter at any given moment.