Galaxies don't collide all that often but when they do, it's an impressive sight and fortunately, the Hubble Space Telescope was there to capture these two embracing systems on 24 April 2008.
Arp 148, as it's known, is the ring-shaped result of a collision between two parent galaxies. First, this produced a shockwave effect that drew matter into its centre. Then it pushed outwards to create this beautiful ring.
Arp 148 is in the constellation of Ursa Major, around 500 million light-years away.
Image Credit: NASA, ESA, the Hubble Heritage (STScI/AURA)-ESA/Hubble Collaboration, and A. Evans (University of Virginia, Charlottesville/NRAO/Stony Brook University)
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