ESA NASA Hubble telescope image: Elliptical Galaxy

This diffuse-looking galaxy may be the only evidence remaining from an ancient collision between two galaxies.

Known as SDSS J162702.56+432833.9, this object is technically catalogued as an elliptical galaxy, but it was likely created during the collision of two spiral galaxies, astronomers say.

This image was taken by the Hubble Space Telescope. Some ribbons of dust notably obscure parts of the conglomerated galaxy's central, bluish region. Those dust lanes could be remnants of the spiral arms of the recently departed galaxies.