A rarely imaged barred lenticular* galaxy, NGC 3081 sits isolated in the constellation Hydra about 86 million light years away. It was discovered on 21st December 1786 by William Herschel.

FOREGROUND

Hubble: Golden rings of star formation

Sitting in the middle is a bright active nucleus surrounded by a 4 prominent rings showing signs of active star formation. The rings lie at periodic orbits, known as resonances, with little to no star formation inbetween.