The Hubble Space Telescope has taken a spectacular image of the irregular galaxy ARP 263 and a stellar photobomb

NASA has shared an image that captures the irregular galaxy ARP 263. The main feature of the photo was an ultra-bright star, which made it more spectacular.

Here's What We Know

The galaxy ARP 263, also known as NGC 3239, is a scatter of stars. There are pockets of star formation in some areas.

The image of the galaxy was taken by the Hubble telescope. Scientists believe that ARP 263 formed as a result of the collision of two galaxies. Astronomers will continue to observe the object, but with a more powerful space observatory James Webb.

Effectiveness of the image gives the star BD + 17 2217. It fell into the lens of the telescope, being located much closer to Earth than the galaxy, which is distant from our planet at 25 million light years.

Eight rays bursting out from the centre of the star appeared due to the peculiarities of the optical system of the space telescope. It forms four diffraction spikes as light passes through. Since Hubble twice photographed behind ARP 263, we see not four, but eight rays. By the way, scientists from NASA called BD+17 2217 a "stellar photobomb".

Source: Science Daily