The giant galaxy called Bullseye ripples in nine rings filled with stars, formed when a blue dwarf galaxy passed through its center like an arrow. The smaller galaxy, seen just left of center in the image, passed through Bullseye's heart about 50 million years ago, creating rings like ripples made by a stone thrown into water. Galaxies often collide or pass close to each other in the universe (on a cosmic scale, of course), but it's extremely rare for one galaxy to plunge directly into the center of another.

Capturing this impressive image, @NASAHubble's high-resolution observations clearly revealed the eight rings of the Bullseye galaxy. Data from the W. M. Keck Observatory in Hawaii led to the discovery of a ninth ring. With these data, astronomers will be able to study in more detail how the galaxy and its rings will shape and evolve over billions of years.

Image description:

In the center is a large galaxy and to its left is a much smaller galaxy. It has several rings. Its circular core is bright white in the center, but light yellow overall. There are gaps between the rings as you move outwards. There is a small dwarf galaxy at 9 o'clock. It is about the same size as Bullseye's yellow core. The dwarf galaxy is blue and has many spots on it. The edge of Bullseye seems to touch the dwarf galaxy. Both galaxies are set against the black background of dotted space with a number of galaxies of different shapes, colors and sizes, with a foreground star on the left.

Credits: NASA, ESA, Imad Pasha (Yale), Pieter van Dokkum (Yale)
#NASA #Space #Astronomy #Stars #Telescope #BullsEye #Darts #Hubble