The Cartwheel Galaxy on the right in this image has an interesting shape. The origin of this shape comes from an intergalactic collision.

As a smaller galaxy passed through a larger disc galaxy, it created shock waves in the gas and dust, triggering intense star formation regions (seen in blue). The ring outside the galaxy represents the leading edge of this shock wave.

The Cartwheel Galaxy is located about 500 million light years from Earth!

Image description:

On the right, a large galaxy is visible with a bright blue ring surrounding a smaller yellowish galactic centre. This galaxy is bound together by thin, mystical regions of stars, gas and dust. On the left, two smaller galaxies shine, one with bright blue star formations at the top and the other in a yellowish spiral at the bottom.

What do you think it looks like?