Against a stunning backdrop of thousands of galaxies, this odd-looking galaxy with a long streamer of stars appears to be racing through space, like a runaway pinwheel firework. The small, blue galaxy visible in the upper left corner of the Tadpole ripped through the larger spiral galaxy, distorting it and pulling out a long tail of stars, gas and dust.

Explore the science along with the scenery – Image Tours show Hubble pictures through an astronomer's eyes, pinpointing and explaining key features to add understanding to the joy of cosmic sightseeing.

RELATED LINK:
• The Tadpole Galaxy: Distorted Victim of Cosmic Collision

Publication: March 21, 2006