COSMIC WONDER 

NASA recently shared stunning images of the Cartwheel Galaxy, and we will explore what it is and how it was formed.

The Cartwheel Galaxy, located 500 million light-years away in the Sculptor constellation, resembles a wagon wheel due to a galactic collision.

The galaxy's appearance was shaped by a high-speed collision between a large spiral galaxy and a smaller one.

The collision dramatically altered the Cartwheel Galaxy's shape, forming two distinct rings—an inner bright ring and a colorful outer ring.

These rings expand outward from the center of the impact, resembling ripples in a pond after a stone is thrown.

Due to its unique structure, the Cartwheel Galaxy is classified as a "ring galaxy," a rarer form compared to spiral galaxies like the Milky Way.

Here are 3 images of Cartwheel Galaxy captured by NASA's telescopes: 

NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope has captured a detailed glimpse into the chaotic Cartwheel Galaxy, offering fresh insights into how it has evolved over billions of years.

This near-infrared image reveals more stars than are typically visible in standard light.

The Hubble Space Telescope captured this image of the Cartwheel Galaxy, located approximately 500 million light-years away in the Sculptor constellation.