# @europeanspaceagency on Instagram

- **Type:** Image
- **Original URL:** https://www.instagram.com/p/DGZHjRIs4z7
- **Gondola URL:** https://gondola.cc/posts/35582223-europeanspaceagency-instagram
- **Thumbnail:** https://img.gondola.cc/tr:w-,h-,fo-auto/postThumbnails/f6214beb86.jpg
- **Posted:** 2025-02-22T22:50:00.000+00:00
- **Account Owner:** J.L.Lopez (@xandler80) — https://gondola.cc/xandler80

## Caption

A cosmic Bullseye! 🎯

Meet LEDA 1313424, better known as the Bullseye Galaxy—and for good reason! This enormous galaxy is 2.5 times the size of our Milky Way and boasts a record-breaking nine rings, formed when a blue dwarf galaxy plunged right through its core about 50 million years ago.

Thanks to hubbleesa and the W. M. Keck Observatory, astronomers have now confirmed all nine rings and identified the tiny interloper responsible for this cosmic masterpiece! The dwarf galaxy, seen just to the Bullseye’s left, sent shockwaves rippling outwards—just like tossing a stone into a pond.

Though now separated by 130 000 light-years, a faint gas trail still connects these galactic dance partners. A snapshot of chaos and beauty, captured across millions of years! 

📸 europeanspaceagency / hubbleesa & NASA, I. Pasha (Yale), P. van Dokkum (Yale); creativecommons CC BY 4.0

## Stats

- **Views:** 0
- **Likes:** 33,157
- **Shares:** 0
- **Comments:** 66

## Credits

These are the roles credited on Gondola. Credits may be incomplete.
A brand, account owner, or featured person is not necessarily the creator.

| Name | Username | Profile | Role |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| ESA - European Space Agency | @europeanspaceagency | https://gondola.cc/europeanspaceagency | Government Organization |
| J.L.Lopez | @xandler80 | https://gondola.cc/xandler80 | Producer |
| J.L.Lopez | @xandler80 | https://gondola.cc/xandler80 | Editor |
| Hubble Space Telescope | @hubbleesa | https://gondola.cc/hubbleesa | Photographer |
| J.L.Lopez | @xandler80 | https://gondola.cc/xandler80 | Social Media Manager |
| J.L.Lopez | @xandler80 | https://gondola.cc/xandler80 | Publisher |
| J.L.Lopez | @xandler80 | https://gondola.cc/xandler80 | Copywriter |
| J.L.Lopez | @xandler80 | https://gondola.cc/xandler80 | Community Manager |

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