Unclassifiable: Astronomers reveal the nature of a very peculiar galaxy (photo).

The photograph from the Hubble Space Telescope shows a peculiar galaxy named NGC 4694, located 54 million light-years away from us. This galaxy cannot be easily classified, as it does not fit into either of the two main types of galaxies: elliptical and spiral. However, a detailed study of the unusual characteristics of NGC 4694 has revealed its true nature, according to Live Science.

The Milky Way is a spiral galaxy, characterized by a round shape. Spiral galaxies have well-defined spiral arms that extend from the core, containing abundant interstellar gas necessary for the formation of new stars. Many stars in these galaxies are relatively young and very bright.

In contrast, elliptical galaxies, which have an elliptical or oval shape, exhibit a more homogeneous structure and contain little interstellar gas needed for new star formation. The primary inhabitants of elliptical galaxies are massive old red stars.

Most known galaxies in the universe can be categorized as one of the aforementioned types. However, the galaxy NGC 4694 possesses characteristics of both elliptical and spiral galaxies, making it difficult to classify.

On one hand, NGC 4694 is as smooth as elliptical galaxies and lacks spiral arms. Additionally, there is almost no new star formation occurring in the disk of the galaxy. On the other hand, similar to spiral galaxies, new stars are actively forming in the central regions of NGC 4694. Furthermore, like spiral galaxies, NGC 4694 is filled with a significant amount of gaseous hydrogen, which serves as a source for new star formation.

The Hubble telescope image also reveals unusual structures made of reddish-brown dust scattered throughout NGC 4694, originating from its core.

Astronomers have also discovered that the unusual galaxy is surrounded by a cloud of gaseous hydrogen, creating a distinctive long bridge leading to a faint, very small neighboring galaxy called VCC 2062.

Scientists from the European Space Agency carefully examined the Hubble telescope image and concluded that the two galaxies are in the process of merging after a collision. According to the researchers, the larger galaxy NGC 4694 has used its gravity to steal gaseous hydrogen from the tiny galaxy. This has given NGC 4694 its unique smooth shape without spiral arms and has triggered an active process of new star formation. Consequently, astronomers have determined that NGC 4694 is a lenticular galaxy.

This type of galaxy represents an intermediate stage of evolution between elliptical and spiral galaxies. Lenticular galaxies have a large galactic disk, a bulge filled with stars at their center, but lack prominent spiral arms. They contain more material for star formation than elliptical galaxies.