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Published online by Cambridge University Press: 12 April 2016
We review old and new observational data for Stephan’s Quintet (SQ), the most famous compact galaxy group. Recently obtained multi-wavelength data has helped to clarify the past and present evolutionary history of this group. If SQ is typical of the compact group phenomenon, then: 1) the groups evolve slowly, resisting merging, due to the injection of energy from high velocity intruders and 2) show low levels of enhanced star formation because individual component ISM’s are quickly stripped via intruder collisions with resultant gas either too hot or cold/diffuse to form many stars. Infall of residual near nuclear gas may also stimulate the development of AGN.