7. The Hoag’s Object
Found Year: 1950
It was found by Arthur Hoag.
Location: Not specified
If it qualifies as a galaxy, Hoag’s Object, discovered in 1950 by American astronomer Arthur Hoag, is unidentifiable from any other galaxy ever discovered. Hoag’s Object is neither of the two prevalent shapes of galaxies, which are elliptical (Cygnus A) or spiral (Milky Way).
Hoag’s Object © Shutterstock/Gtspace
Hag’s Object is the only known ring galaxy, therefore its origins are still mostly unknown. Astronomers have experimented with the theory that a smaller galaxy, Hoag’s Object, burst through the galaxy a few billion years ago, like a bullet through a target, scattering its swirls in the process. This is one theory for the galaxy’s empty inner circle.
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