File:A Cosmic Hit and Run.jpg

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Description
English: This Picture of the Week shows the Vela ring galaxy, visible as a bright core surrounded by a baby blue halo. As the name suggests, this ring galaxy — located in the southern constellation of Vela (The Sails) — is notable due to its compact core and large circular belt of gas and stars.

It is thought that ring galaxies like this are created when larger galaxies are punctured by a smaller galactic aggressor, which, passing through the heart of its more sizeable victim, triggers a shock wave that spreads outwards. This pushes gas to the galaxy’s periphery, where it begins to collapse and form new stars. The Vela ring galaxy is unusual in that it actually exhibits at least two rings, suggesting that the collision was not a recent one.

This picture also features a galaxy known as ESO 316-33, seen just above and to the left of the Vela ring galaxy, and a bright star known as HD 88170.
Date
Source http://www.eso.org/public/images/potw1619a/
Author

ESO

Acknowledgements: Jean-Christophe Lambry

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9 May 2016

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current10:51, 14 February 2024Thumbnail for version as of 10:51, 14 February 20242,032 × 2,032 (1.24 MB)C messierfull size
08:34, 9 May 2016Thumbnail for version as of 08:34, 9 May 20161,280 × 1,238 (223 KB)JmencisomUser created page with UploadWizard

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