Scientists using the Hubble Space Telescope have spotted a record-smashing galaxy wrapped in 9 rings of stars — along with the dwarf galaxy that violently plunged through its center.

The Hubble Space Telescope has captured this striking image of an unusual galaxy with a bullseye structure, as nine rings surround its central point. Technically known as LEDA 1313424, the galaxy has more rings than any other known galaxy, and studying it is helping astronomers to learn how galaxies like this are created.

NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope has revealed a galaxy resembling a bullseye, with multiple rings expanding from its centre.

NASA's Hubble Space Telescope has captured a cosmic bullseye. The gargantuan galaxy LEDA 1313424 is rippling with nine star-filled rings after an "arrow"—a far smaller blue dwarf galaxy—shot through its heart.

The Bullseye is now confirmed to have nine rings, eight of which are visible to Hubble. Researchers confirmed the existence of the ninth ring by studying data from the W. M. Keck Observatory. That means the Bullseye has six more rings than any other known galaxy.

There, astronomers have found a galaxy girdled by, not one, but nine concentric rings – the aftermath of a violent encounter with a blue dwarf galaxy that shot right through its heart, sending shockwaves rippling out into space.

A small blue dwarf galaxy passed through the massive Bullseye galaxy. This impact created nine rings of new stars.