These are Hubble images of colliding galaxies, which are more common than one might suspect.
The photo credit for the image in your post indicates that it was taken near Frazier Park, probably from the parking lot near the top of Mount Pinos. This is a great location for viewing the night sky. If you drive up on the night of a new moon, or a weekend night closest to the new moon, when the sky will remain dark all night long, you will find many enthusiasts with an array of telescopes. Any one of them will be happy to have you observe the target they are viewing. I hope the development of Tejon Ranch will make judicious use of lighting for the sake of preserving the night view from this spectacular location.