A Strange Galaxy Spinning in Two Directions

By Space.Fan Editorial DeskSeptember 18, 2026 at 8:00 AM UTC

The galaxy NGC 4698 has a hidden, chaotic secret: its center rotates sideways compared to the rest of the galaxy.

Image · ESA

The Drop

Most spiral galaxies are like giant, spinning plates. All the s and gas rotate in the same direction. However, the Hubble Space Telescope has spotted something very odd in a galaxy called NGC 4698. Located 55 million s away, this galaxy looks normal from a distance, but its center is doing something completely different. The s and gas in the middle part are spinning at a 90-degree angle to the outer, flatter part of the galaxy. It is like having a spinning top inside a spinning record. Scientists discovered this weird motion by observing how the light from different parts of the galaxy behaves. By looking at the colors and movement of the gas and s, they realized the center was out of sync with the edges. This galaxy also has a very active in its core that is pulling in gas, which might be related to its unusual shape.

Why It Matters

This discovery helps scientists understand that galaxies are not always peaceful, orderly systems. Seeing a galaxy with parts that spin in different directions suggests that it likely went through a messy past, such as a collision or a merger with another smaller galaxy. By studying how this galaxy absorbed new material from the outside, researchers can learn more about how big galaxies grow and change over time.

The Catch

While astronomers think the galaxy's strange rotation was caused by feeding on gas from the outside, this is still a theory based on the evidence available. It is possible that other events in the galaxy's history could have caused this chaotic motion, and scientists are still working to confirm exactly how such a rare alignment happened.

Put That in Perspective

NGC 4698 is one of only a few galaxies known to behave this way. Astronomers have even spotted a faint trail of hydrogen gas streaming from the galaxy, which serves as a clue that it may have swallowed another smaller neighbor in the distant past.

Source September 18, 2026

D. Thilker

MAUVE-HST Team