NGC 6040 is a spiral galaxy located about 550 million light-years away[3] in the constellation Hercules.

[4] NGC 6040 was discovered by astronomer Édouard Stephan on June 27, 1870.

[6][7] As a result of this interaction, NGC 6040's southern spiral arm has been warped in the direction toward PGC 56942.

This depletion may have been caused as both galaxies fell into the Hercules Cluster and interacted with the surrounding intracluster medium (ICM).

This interaction would have caused ram-pressure stripping and in effect removed the gas in the two galaxies.