<p>That is galaxy NGC 1097, a barred spiral galaxy in the constellation Fornax. It has been distorted by interactions with neighbouring galaxies and has a weakly active galactic nucleus, with jets coming from the nucleus. The jets contain stars from a galaxy that has recently (in astronomical terms) been cannibalized. The ring in the centre is a region of star formation, surrounding the nucleus of the galaxy at about 5000 light years.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-11-06T17:34:05.717Z
2017-11-06T17:34:05.717Z
James K
<p>I would like to know the name of this eye-shaped galaxy:</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wired.com/2009/07/eyegalaxy/" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Strange eye-shaped galaxy has black-hole iris, Betsy Mason, 23.07.2009, Wired.com</a>:</p>

<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/jygsg.jpg" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/jygsg.jpg" alt="enter image description here"></a></p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-11-06T16:15:33.150Z
[APOD 27/07/2009](https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap090727.html)
George
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-11-06T17:24:24.653Z
That link contains an answer. Please answer in the answer section.
James K
<naming><definition>
Whats the name of this eye-shaped galaxy?
Fructibus
# Whats the name of this eye-shaped galaxy?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2017-11-06)

I would like to know the name of this eye-shaped galaxy:

[Strange eye-shaped galaxy has black-hole iris, Betsy Mason, 23.07.2009, Wired.com](https://www.wired.com/2009/07/eyegalaxy/):

[![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/jygsg.jpg)](https://i.sstatic.net/jygsg.jpg)

**Tags:** naming, definition

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: [APOD 27/07/2009](https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap090727.html)  
> **username_2**: That link contains an answer. Please answer in the answer section.  

---

## 1 answers

### Answer by username_2 on 2017-11-06. Score: 4 | Accepted answer

That is galaxy NGC 1097, a barred spiral galaxy in the constellation Fornax. It has been distorted by interactions with neighbouring galaxies and has a weakly active galactic nucleus, with jets coming from the nucleus. The jets contain stars from a galaxy that has recently (in astronomical terms) been cannibalized. The ring in the centre is a region of star formation, surrounding the nucleus of the galaxy at about 5000 light years.


---

