The Vera Rubin Observatory has made a significant discovery of a massive stellar stream originating from the galaxy M61 in the Virgo Cluster. This stream, spanning approximately 163,000 light-years, comprises the remains of a dwarf galaxy that was absorbed by M61. These streams are a result of gravitational forces, pulling stars into elongated formations.

The imagery capturing this phenomenon is a combination of data from the Vera Rubin Observatory, showcasing the stream extending to the right of the galaxy, and a color image of the galaxy itself, captured by the PHANGS observatory. This composite image provides a detailed view of the stellar stream and the galaxy, offering insights into the dynamics of interactions between galaxies within the Virgo Cluster.