Bullseye Galaxy Discovery Reveals Unprecedented Nine-Ring Structure

Researchers have identified LEDA 1313424, also known as the Bullseye Galaxy, as a unique collisional ring galaxy situated about 550–570 million light-years from Earth in the constellation Pisces. The discovery adds new insights into galaxy formation and the possible role of dark matter structures.

The Bullseye Galaxy spans approximately 250,000 light-years in diameter, making it considerably larger than the Milky Way. Observations revealed nine concentric rings, which is six more than any previously documented galaxy of this type.

Imaging from the Hubble Space Telescope detected eight of these rings, and subsequent confirmation from the W. M. Keck Observatory established the presence of a ninth ring. The discovery was first detailed in a 2025 study led by a Yale-based team, which used data from Hubble, Keck, and Dragonfly instruments.

About 50 million years ago, a smaller blue dwarf galaxy passed nearly directly through the center of LEDA 1313424, which triggered the formation of the rings. The blue dwarf galaxy is now located roughly 130,000 light-years away from the Bullseye Galaxy, with a faint gas trail still connecting the two systems.

What the numbers show

• LEDA 1313424 is 550–570 million light-years from Earth
• The galaxy’s diameter is about 250,000 light-years
• Nine concentric rings have been identified, a record among known galaxies

Analyses of the ring positions indicate that they closely align with predictions from analytic models of collisional ring formation, supporting the idea of a rapid, multi-ring phase following the impact event. This alignment provides evidence for current theories regarding the formation of such structures after galactic collisions.

Follow-up spectroscopic studies detected faint emissions at large radii, around 70 kiloparsecs, which are consistent with a faded outer ring. This finding suggests that the Bullseye Galaxy may have once possessed a tenth ring that has since become less visible.

Some researchers have proposed that the observed rings could be related to dark-matter caustic rings within the galaxy’s disk. If confirmed, this hypothesis may contribute to understanding the properties and distribution of dark matter in galaxies.

The discovery of LEDA 1313424’s nine-ring structure offers a new example for studying the effects of galactic collisions and the possible influence of dark matter on galactic features. Ongoing observations and analyses are expected to further clarify the origins and implications of these unusual ring patterns.

* This article is based on publicly available information at the time of writing.