Yes, that's correct. When we observe a distant galaxy, the light we see has traveled for billions of years to reach us. This means that the information we receive is essentially a snapshot of what was happening in that galaxy billions of years ago. It creates a sort of time delay between our observation and the present state of the galaxy.
As a result, it is not possible to directly know what is happening "right now" in that galaxy based on our observations alone. We can only infer the past state of the galaxy based on the light we receive. This limitation applies to any observation of distant objects in the universe, given the finite speed of light.
However, it is worth noting that scientists can still gather valuable information about the evolution and characteristics of distant galaxies by studying the light they emit. By analyzing the light's properties, such as its spectrum, intensity, and polarization, astronomers can learn about the composition of the galaxy, its motion, and other physical properties.
To gain a more complete understanding of the present state of a distant galaxy, scientists often combine observations from different wavelengths of light and employ sophisticated models and simulations. Additionally, advancements in observational technology and future space missions may allow us to obtain more detailed and up-to-date information about remote galaxies, but the inherent time delay will always be a factor to consider.