Archive:Hoag's Object
Hoag's object is a ring galaxy.
| File:Hoagsobject.jpg Image from the HST and courtesy of NASA |
A ring of blue stars circle the yellow nucleus of this galaxy. The galaxy is about 120,000 light-years wide, which is slightly larger the Milky Way Galaxy. The gap separating the two stellar populations may contain some star clusters that are almost too faint to see. Another ring galaxy can be seen, through Hoag's object, at the 1:00 position.
References: Hoag, A. A. (1950), AJ, 55, 170
See also: polar-ring galaxy, NGC 4650A, Cartwheel Galaxy