For Week 3 of #CozySpaceFactofTheWeek I bring you the strange case of “Hoag’s Object”. A mystery that stares right at us!

This galaxy, some 600M+ Light Years away is extremely young in it’s outer ring, lacking formations at the mid ring and is somewhat old in center!

SMB

1) Originally discovered by Arthur Hoag in 1950, it was so odd that he essentially scratched his head, and made no attempt at explaining it’s origins and formation. As of current, I myself have yet to see a widely accepted theory myself. There are even alien theories about it.

2) This galaxy is the first in a category known as “Hoag-Like Objects.”, meaning they carry a three ring shape, with it’s middle ring being somewhat empty of mass and scantly populated with stars. Centered with an old, elliptical galactic core.

3) While most galaxies rotate at different speeds within themselves, objects such as Hoag’s move actually as one, at the same speed! Meaning they are essentially the same object. Yet again, there is little explanation for this. It could even have stopped rotating itself!

4) A theory that currently stands comes from ancient galactic collisions. However, after an impact, most galaxies will undertake a spiral shape.

Such as NGC 1672. We can clearly see that there is no evident spiral shape on the H.O.

5) Another explanation could simply be “Dark Matter”!

It is theorized that the mysterious force is always present on the halo/outer rim of galaxies, which could also explain the gathering of relatively young and productive regions on it’s outer region.

6) Other than that, there truly is no other thinkable option! It makes even less sense when you think of it.

Young and bright stars alike forming almost out of random without a truly viable connection to an ANCIENT and dying core region!

7) The mid ring itself is scantly populated with warm clusters of bright stars, but other than this, there is nothing forming new stars as of current.

Wether it be collisions, dark matter or even aliens making an art project, it will without a doubt take more time to figure!

8) The strangest thing is that there are still MORE of these objects in the nearby area! You can even see a Hoag-like object DIRECTLY BEHIND Hoag’s Object! It’s a true phenomena indeed!

9) Thank you for reading week 3! I hope you learned something interesting!

What do you think it could be? I’d like to hear your theories!