The upper galaxy might be more photogenic, but the lower galaxy is more unusual. The galaxy up top is NGC 3660 , a spiral galaxy similar to our own Milky Way galaxy in that it has several bright blue spiral arms and a central bar of stars, dust, and gas. Captured by chance in the featured deep and colorful image , surprisingly, is SN 2026cff , a supernova found just to the right of the central bar. Farther in the distance is the bottom galaxy, known informally as Burçin’s galaxy , but formally cataloged as LEDA 1000714. The center of this galaxy appears to be an old elliptical galaxy , but it is strangely surrounded by not one but two rings of stars . What created Burçin's galaxy is a mystery and remains a continuing topic of research, but it likely involves the accretion of one or more smaller galaxies .
Media Credits & Attribution
Image Credit & Copyright: Adam Block , El Sauce Obs.