Hubble telescope has detected a ring-shaped galaxy: what is it? Photo
The US optical telescope Hubble (Hubble ) has detected an unusual ring-shaped galaxy. The spreading arms form a nearly perfect circle around the galactic central disk in the amazing new image.
According to a NASA statement, the MCG+07-07-07-072 jumper spiral galaxy has thin, loosely twisted tails extending from the ends of its jumper core. This creates an unusual ring shape, Space.com writes.
The jumper spiral galaxy is officially known as MCG+07-07-07-072. According to experts, it is truly unique. "Rings in galaxies come in many different shapes, from the merely unusual to the rare and important to science," NASA officials said in a statement.
The Hubble telescope takes unique images from space.
Source: Getty
MCG+07-07-072 is referred to as a spiral galaxy with interlacing arms across its central structure in the form of a band composed of stars. However, its official classification is a SBc(r) galaxy, referring to its spiral arms.
"The 'ring galaxy' classification is reserved for special galaxies with a circular ring of gas and star formation similar to spiral arms, but completely disconnected from the galactic nucleus - or even without a visible nucleus," NASA said.
Ring galaxies are thought to form when two or more galaxies collide. For example, when a smaller galaxy passes through the center of a larger one, the resulting gravitational excitation causes a wave of star formation that moves through the larger galaxy and pushes its arms outward. This cosmic phenomenon can be compared to the resulting splash when a rock is thrown into water.
Scientists also suggest that the ring-shaped appearance of the galaxy may be the result of a phenomenon known as gravitational lensing. During it, a massive object in the foreground warps the space around it, distorting the image of the object in the background into rings, arcs or multiple points of light.
"Ring-shaped images, called Einstein rings, are only formed when lensing and images of galaxies are perfectly aligned," NASA officials said in a statement.
Another fresh photo from Hubble: the dwarf spheroidal galaxy Pegasus is one of at least 13 dwarf galaxies orbiting the Andromeda Galaxy.
Source: nasa.gov
The new Hubble image also captured several stars with noticeable diffraction flares. These stars look larger in the image because they lie in the foreground, much closer to Earth than MCG+07-07-072.
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