March 6 (UPI) — Hubble released a new image this week showcasing the galaxy UGC 12591. The galaxy is noted for its massive size and unusual structure.
UGC 12591 is a hybrid galaxy, combining the characteristics of both lenticular and spiral galaxies. The hybrid is four times more massive than the Milky Way. The galaxy’s massive spirals are rotating at extreme speeds, in excess of 1 million miles per hour.
Located some 400 million light-years from the Earth, UGC 12591 is part of the Perseus-Pisces Supercluster, one of the largest known structures in the universe. The supercluster stretches several hundred light-years across and spans 40 degrees of the northern winter sky.
Astronomers are currently studying UGC 12591 to determine how it formed and evolved. Researchers want to know whether it evolved on its own or is the product of a massive galactic collision.
