Two rings then formed from the center of the collision, similar to the ripples in concentric circles caused by a pebble thrown into the water. This is what earned it its evocative name. The first ring, more in the center, is very bright, and the second, outside, has been expanding for 440 million years. During its expansion, the ring hits the surrounding gas, triggering the formation of stars.
This galaxy had already been observed by the Hubble Space Telescope, but James Webb’s infrared abilities reveal new, hitherto hidden details, allowing a large amount of dust to be seen through. The composite image, from observations by two scientific instruments of the telescope, also features two other smaller galaxies, as well as many others in the background.