Specialists of the accompanying group of the Hubble mission published a new image. It shows a galaxy NGC 2566 resembling a huge eye.
NGC 2566 is a spiral galaxy located 76 million light-years from Earth toward the constellation Puppis. A conspicuous band of stars stretches across the center of the galaxy, and spiral arms emerge from each end of the galaxy. Because NGC 2566 is tilted slightly toward us, its disk looks almond-shaped. The combination of all these factors gives NGC 2566 its resemblance to an eye.
The galaxy was targeted by Hubble as part of a project that aims to study star clusters and regions of active star formation. In this respect, Hubble data are of particular value to astronomers. Newborn stars are particularly bright in the ultraviolet and visible wavelength ranges in which the telescope takes pictures. Using the data it collects, scientists will determine the age of NGC 2566’s luminaries, which will help compile a timeline of star formation in the galaxy and the exchange of gas between star-forming clouds.
Hubble is not the only telescope that participated in the study of NGC 2566. James Webb also took part in the observations. It managed to capture the warm dust filling the galaxy, complementing Hubble’s data. And in the long-wavelength part of the electromagnetic spectrum, NGC 2566 was also observed with the ALMA antenna array. It managed to obtain detailed images of the clouds of gas in which the stars of NGC 2566 are formed.
Earlier we reported on how Hubble peered into the heart of a quasar.
Provided by Esahubble
