A bright star photobombs the irregular galaxy Arp 263 in this NASA Hubble Space Telescope image. Located about 25 million light-years away in the constellation Leo, Arp 263 is believed to have formed from the merger of two galaxies.

This image was taken using two of Hubble's instruments. Hubble's Wide Field Camera 3 was used to search for the remnants of a massive starburst detected in Arp 263 just over a decade ago, and Hubble's Advanced Camera for Surveys examined the galaxy as part of an effort to find promising observing targets for NASA's James Webb telescope.

The two images were taken at different times, when Hubble was orientated in different ways - so the stellar photobomber (officially known as BD+17 2217) has two sets of diffraction spikes instead of just one.

Photo description: An irregular galaxy that looks like a triangular patch of small stars. It is most intense in the centre and along one edge and fades towards the opposite corner. A few bright pink spots mark areas of star formation, and the galaxy's brightest stars are around them. A large, bright star with two sets of long spikes shines between the viewer and the galaxy.

 

Source: nasa.gov