Bullseye Galaxy

Bullseye Galaxy: An international research team using the Hubble Space Telescope and W.M. Keck Observatory recently discovered the Bullseye Galaxy (LEDA 1313424).

• About Bullseye Galaxy (LEDA 1313424): It is a collisional ring galaxy (CRG) located 534 million light-years away in the constellation Pisces.

o Formed around 50 million years ago due to a head-on collision with a blue dwarf galaxy.

o The collision created rippling gas waves, triggering ring-shaped star formation.

o Rare structure: Most ring galaxies have 2–3 rings; this one has 9 rings.

• Telescopic confirmation:

o Hubble Space Telescope: Identified 8 rings.

o Keck Observatory (Hawaii): Confirmed a 9th ring.

o Size: Diameter- ~250,000 light-years (2.5× the Milky Way).

o A thin gas trail still links it to the dwarf galaxy, despite 130,000 light-years separation.

o Future evolution: May become a Giant Low Surface Brightness (GLSB) Galaxy.

• About Giant Low Surface Brightness (GLSB) Galaxies: It is a rare, massive galaxies with diffuse, low-density stellar disks, contain large amounts of neutral hydrogen but have low star formation rates.