NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope has captured an extraordinary image of the Bullseye galaxy, a stunning example of galactic interaction. The galaxy, known as LEDA 1313424, features nine distinct rings, a rare phenomenon that sheds new light on our understanding of galaxy collisions.
The Bullseye galaxy was pierced by a smaller blue dwarf galaxy, which left behind an intricate pattern of expanding rings. These rings, filled with newborn stars, resemble ripples in a pond. The collision occurred 50 million years ago, and the cosmic ripples pushed material both inward and outward, shaping the structure of the larger galaxy.
The discovery changes how astronomers view galaxy interactions, providing a rare glimpse into the rippling effects of a high-speed collision. Hubble’s crisp imaging allowed researchers to pinpoint most of the rings, many of which are clustered near the center.
The Bullseye galaxy aligns almost perfectly with long-standing theories about ring formation. Models predict that a galaxy hit in this way should produce a series of outward-moving rings, and this is exactly what astronomers observed. The team’s findings were published in The Astrophysical Journal Letters.
This extraordinary event highlights the importance of advanced telescopes like Hubble and the upcoming Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope. These instruments will provide even greater insights into galactic interactions, allowing researchers to refine models of galaxy evolution and study the long-term fate of galaxies like the Bullseye.
Source: https://www.earth.com/news/bullseye-galaxy-reveals-stunning-rings-after-galactic-impact