Hubble views a spiral galaxy as a celestial cannonball.

This NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope image features the spiral galaxy IC 3225, a striking cosmic entity that resembles a comet racing through the cosmos.

In a stunning image captured by the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope, the spiral galaxy IC 3225 appears to soar through space, resembling a comet with a trailing stream of gas. Located approximately 100 million light-years from Earth, this galaxy is a dynamic participant in the bustling Virgo galaxy cluster, which houses over 1,300 members.

The interactions within the Virgo cluster create a dense field of hot gas, known as the intracluster medium, exerting significant pressure on galaxies like IC 3225. As it moves through this medium, the galaxy experiences “ram pressure,” a force that can strip away star-forming gas and dust, potentially halting new star formation. Interestingly, ram pressure can also compress regions of a galaxy, possibly leading to increased star formation.

IC 3225’s structure hints at a history of these cosmic forces. Its leading edge displays vigorous star formation, while the opposite side appears stretched, suggesting past encounters with the dense intracluster medium or other galaxies. This remarkable distortion serves as a testament to the powerful gravitational and environmental interactions at play in the universe, highlighting the ever-changing nature of galaxies.