This object is a collisional ring galaxy system, also know as IC 298, located 440 million light years away in the constellation of Cetus at a declination of +1 degrees. Each galaxy spans 30 arc-seconds in our apparent view, about the same current size of Jupiter to us. This size corresponds to an actual diameter for each galaxy of about 60,000 light years.
The right galaxy is almost face-on to us, while the left galaxy is almost edge-on. Faint star streams are seen connecting the 2 galaxies. The right galaxy has a section at about 7 o’clock which appears to have been the core section of the original spiral galaxy. The left galaxy resembles Saturn.
It looks to me that the galaxy on the left passed through the galaxy on the right, moving from right to left and clearing out the central section of the right galaxy. The galaxy on the left also appears to have a ring structure. Although this object may look unique, it is very similar in appearance to
Arp 146.
Two other disturbed galaxies are seen in this image, one at the upper right and one at the lower left.
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