Hubble image of irregular galaxy Holmberg II
The NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope has captured this image of dwarf irregular galaxy Holmberg II. The galaxy is dominated by huge bubbles of glowing gas, which are sites of ongoing star formation.
As high-mass stars form in dense regions of gas and dust they expel strong stellar winds that blow away the surrounding material. The cavities are also blown clear of gas by the shock waves produced in supernovae, the violent explosions that mark the end of the lives of massive stars.
Credit:
NASA & ESA
About the Image
| Id: | heic1114a |
| Type: | Observation |
| Release date: | 29 September 2011, 14:30 |
| Related release: | heic1114 |
About the Object
| Name: | Holmberg II |
| Type: | • Local Universe : Galaxy : Type : Irregular • Local Universe : Galaxy : Size : Dwarf |
| Distance: | 11 million light years |
Colours & filters
| Band | Wavelength | Telescope |
| Optical 502 |
Hubble Space Telescope ACS | |
| Optical 550 |
Hubble Space Telescope ACS | |
| Optical Pseudogreen (V+I) |
Hubble Space Telescope ACS | |
| Optical 658 |
Hubble Space Telescope ACS | |
| Optical I |
814 nm | Hubble Space Telescope ACS |
