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From the SAO Encyclopedia: "Galaxies are generally not found in isolation. Most of them are surrounded by a swarm of satellite galaxies and are often embedded in larger aggregates such as galaxy groups or clusters. In these environments, interactions between galaxies are not uncommon and in general, can be divided into two basic types: mergers and 'fly-bys'. Interactions involving high-speed fly-bys are often referred to as galaxy 'harassment'.
Harassment can disturb, or even radically change, the morphologies of the galaxies involved, often inducing new bursts of star formation. Asymmetrical galaxies, disturbed galaxies, warps, bars and tidal tails can all be produced through galaxy harassment.
Research into the nature of galaxies is aided by the study of harassed galaxies for two reasons: 1.) the effects of harassment (tidal tails, asymmetry, warps etc) can often be used to probe the distribution of matter (both visible and dark) within the galaxies involved. 2.) current research suggests that harassment, and other interactions, may play an important role in shaping the evolution of galaxies."
Harassment can disturb, or even radically change, the morphologies of the galaxies involved, often inducing new bursts of star formation. Asymmetrical galaxies, disturbed galaxies, warps, bars and tidal tails can all be produced through galaxy harassment.
Research into the nature of galaxies is aided by the study of harassed galaxies for two reasons: 1.) the effects of harassment (tidal tails, asymmetry, warps etc) can often be used to probe the distribution of matter (both visible and dark) within the galaxies involved. 2.) current research suggests that harassment, and other interactions, may play an important role in shaping the evolution of galaxies."
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Good luck getting a restraint order against some hundred billion stars. :)
I think the only writer (that I know of) who's come close to it is Arthur C. Clarke in The City and the Stars, where a globular cluster is launched across space.
I won't comment on the dark matter part!
I recognise the Cartwheel and M51 (Whirlpool) galaxies, bel - but what's the other (presumably false-colour) image of?
The harassment mechanism in galaxy clusters was first studied in numerical simulations, by Moore, Lake et al. (1996), in the context of galaxy evolution (and was discovered to be a possible fuelling mechanisms for quasars in sub-luminous host galaxies). The false-colour image is a visualization from those simulations.