Galaxy collision

Galaxy collision

A new study has revealed that the Milky Way galaxy experienced a significant collision with another galaxy much more recently than previously thought.

Hoag’s object - Hoag's Object is an unusual ring galaxy in the constellation of Serpens Caput. It is named after Arthur Hoag, who discovered it in 1950 and identified it as either a planetary nebula or a peculiar galaxy. The galaxy has approximately eight billion stars, and is roughly 120,000 light years across. Many of the galaxy's details remain mysterious, foremost of which is how it formed. So-called "classic" ring galaxies are generally formed by the collision of a small galaxy with a…

We can trace our cosmic origin way back to less than one second after the Big Bang. But this mystery, unsolved so far, may be revealed to us in 2016.

A different astronomy and space science related image is featured each day, along with a brief explanation.