Is this galaxy jumping through a giant ring of stars? Probably not. Although the precise
dynamics behind the featured image is yet unclear, what is clear is that the pictured galaxy,
NGC 7714, has been stretched and distorted by a recent collision with a neighboring galaxy. This smaller neighbor,
NGC 7715, situated off to the left of the frame, is thought to have
charged right through
NGC 7714. Observations indicate that the golden
ring pictured is composed of millions of older Sun-like stars that are likely co-moving with the interior bluer stars. In contrast, the bright center of
NGC 7714 appears to be undergoing a burst of new star formation. The
featured image was captured by the
Hubble Space Telescope. NGC 7714 is located about 130 million
light years away toward the constellation of the Two Fish (
Pisces). The interactions between these galaxies likely started about 150 million
years ago and should continue for several hundred million
years more, after which a single central galaxy may result.
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