Bullseye Galaxy

23.04.2025

Bullseye Galaxy

Why in the news?                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     The Bullseye Galaxy (LEDA 1313424) was recently discovered by an international team of researchers using the Hubble Space Telescope and W.M. Keck Observatory.

About Bullseye Galaxy

• The galaxy's distinct ringed structure is believed to have formed approximately 50 million years ago due to a head-on collision with a blue dwarf galaxy.
• This head-on collision is believed to have caused rippling gas waves, leading to star formation in ring-like patterns.
• This discovery was termed “serendipitous” as ringed galaxies usually have only two or three rings.
• GLSB galaxies are believed to be rich in dark matter, and their unusual mass distribution challenges the Standard Model of Cosmology.
• These galaxies display a uniform central mass instead of a dense core, suggesting discrepancies in current models.

Observed Through Multiple Telescopes:

• The Hubble Space Telescope confirmed eight rings.
• The M. Keck Observatory in Hawaii confirmed a ninth ring, revealing the full structure.

• The Bullseye Galaxy spans 250,000 light-years in diameter — nearly 5 times larger than the Milky Way. Despite a current separation of 130,000 light-years, a thin trail of gas still connects it to the colliding dwarf galaxy.
• The Bullseye may evolve into a Giant Low Surface Brightness (GLSB) Galaxy, a rare, massive galaxy type believed to hold clues about dark matter.

Giant Low Surface Brightness (GLSB) Galaxy features:

• Composed of diffuse, low-density stellar disks.
• Contain large amounts of neutral hydrogen but exhibit low star formation rates.
• Include examples like Malin 1, which is 5 times wider than the Milky Way.

                                                              Source: The Hindu

With reference to the Bullseye Galaxy, consider the following statements:

1. The galaxy's distinct ringed structure is believed to have formed approximately 50 million years ago due to a head-on collision with a blue dwarf galaxy.

2. These galaxies display a uniform central mass instead of a dense core, suggesting discrepancies in current models.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

A.1 only

B.2 only

C.Both 1 and 2

D.Neither 1 nor 2

Answer C