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Researchers have combined together images of a distant ravenous galaxy that looks like  strewn with the remains of neighboring galaxies it has devoured. 

The evidence has been reported by the European Southern Observatory (ESO) and has the poetry of a creation story: "Wisps and shells of stars that have been torn from their original locations and flung into intergalactic space."

The newly discovered ravenous galaxy is called NGC 1316 and is a "radio galaxy." A radio galaxy is the one whose black hole is fed on a robust diet of intergalactic matter generating intense heat and radio waves strong enough to be measured by astronomers 60 million light years away. 

"When one galaxy passes through and is eaten by another, you could imagine it a little bit like dropping a pebble into a pool full of water," explained ESO spokesman Richard Hook, according to CS Monitor. "You get ripples of large numbers of stars that are being driven out of the galaxy, to become these shell-like features we see."

Researchers added that the gravitational attraction is bringing galaxies towards NCG 1316. Although galaxy's last engulfment happened an estimated 3 billion years ago but scientists believe "the disruptive behavior is continuing." 

Researchers used a huge 2.2 meter telescope at Chile's La Sila Observatory to combine multiple images. "It's more or less the same as taking a very long exposure," added Hook. 

Ruling out near possibilities, researchers said Milky Way doesn't seem to be in imminent danger from NCG 1316 as it is 60 million light years distant. However, they added that seeing the aftermath of the galaxy's last merger, it has certainly expanded astronomers' understanding how galaxies might change. 

"Our galaxy hasn't been through a major merger yet," Hook added, "but it will do in about 4 billion years when we merge with the Andromeda Galaxy."