A Cosmic Bullseye

Produced by the Space Telescope Science Institute’s Office of Public Outreach in collaboration with NASA’s Universe of Learning partners: Caltech/IPAC, Center for Astrophysics | Harvard & Smithsonian, and NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory.

Video imagery:

·        Galaxy LEDA 1313424: NASA, ESA, Imad Pasha (Yale), Pieter van Dokkum (Yale)

·        Artist’s concept, face-on view of Galaxy LEDA 1313424: NASA, ESA, Ralf Crawford (STScI)

Music from Music for Non-Profits

 

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Many different photographs of planets, galaxies, and nebulae scroll up the screen. Text: NEWS FROM THE UNIVERSE. 

 

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FEBRUARY 17. 2025, A COSMIC BULLSEYE. A spiral galaxy with many rings, some of which are light blue. In the middle is a bright star and white and orange gas. Next to the galaxy is a small blue mass. Text: Astronomers have used NASA's Hubble Space Telescope to identify a record eight rings in the galaxy LEDA 1 3 1 3 4 2 4, as well as what caused them. 

 

A ninth ring was found by the ground-based W M Keck Observatory. 

 

An arrow points to the small blue mass to the left of the galaxy. It's labeled DWARF GALAXY. Text: Scientists determined that the blue dwarf galaxy seen to LEDA's left traveled through the larger galaxy's core about 50 million years ago, setting off ripples like a stone dropped through a pond's surface. 

 

A diagram of a bullseye galaxy. Part of the diagram has the drawing stripped away so it's easier to see the rings. Text: As gas was pushed outward, it compressed and formed stars, lighting up in rings. This is the first time more than three rings have been seen in a galaxy. 

 

Scientists say this galaxy was caught at a special moment in cosmic time, and the rings will eventually fade from view. 

 

This news was brought to you in part by the SPACE TELESCOPE SCIENCE INSTITUTE IN BALTIMORE, MARYLAND. 

 

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